ESA’s Proba-3 Mission Prepares for Launch on ISRO’s PSLV
Summary: Proba-3 Mission Prepares for Launch
ESA’s Proba-3 mission, the world’s first precision formation-flying mission, is set to launch in December 2024 aboard ISRO’s **PSLV-XL rocket**. The twin spacecraft, **Occulter (OSC)** and **Coronagraph (CSC)**, are stacked and ready at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SHAR).
Key Details:
– Objective: Revolutionize solar corona observations by forming a 150-meter solar coronagraph in orbit.
– Orbit: Highly elliptical (60,500 km apogee, 600 km perigee) for extended observation time.
– Significance: Offers new insights into the Sun’s corona while demonstrating advanced formation-flying technology.
Final preparations are underway, with the space science community eagerly anticipating its groundbreaking contributions.
The European Space Agency’s (ESA) Proba-3 mission has reached a significant milestone as its twin spacecraft, the **Occulter Spacecraft (OSC)** and **Coronagraph Spacecraft (CSC)**, have been stacked in their launch configuration at India’s Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SHAR).
Key Mission Details:
– Groundbreaking Technology: Proba-3 is the world’s first mission to demonstrate precision formation-flying, aimed at revolutionizing solar corona observations and advancing space technologies.
– Unique Design: Once in orbit, the two spacecraft will separate and align to form a 150-meter solar coronagraph, allowing unprecedented study of the Sun’s faint corona near its rim.
– Launch and Orbit: Set for **December 2024**, the mission will be launched aboard ISRO’s PSLV-XL rocket and operate in an elliptical orbit (apogee: 60,500 km; perigee: 600 km) for extended observation periods.
Current Preparations:
– The OSC is stacked on top of the CSC in their launch position.
– The Coronagraph is being filled with hydrazine propellant to enable in-orbit maneuvers.
Importance of the Mission:
Proba-3 is expected to deliver groundbreaking insights into the Sun’s corona while showcasing advanced spacecraft control, setting a new benchmark for future missions. The global space science community is eagerly anticipating its data and technological contributions.