Isro will launch EU solar observatory mission in December | India News – Times of India

NEW DELHI: In a new boost to India-Europe space cooperation, Isro will launch Proba-3, a key European Union (EU) spacecraft for the solar observation mission, in December, Space Minister Jitendra Singh said on Tuesday.
Speaking at the Indian Space Conclave 3.0 in the presence of EU Ambassador to India and Bhutan Herve Delphin and Isro Chairman S Somanath, the minister said, “EU large orbiter Proba-3 will be launched from Sriharikota (launch center) in the first week ) go into space. of December. This will be the third spacecraft of the Proba series and will observe the sun. Previously, two satellites were launched for Earth observation.
“Space scientists from Isro and the European Union will jointly observe the Sun’s atmosphere,” Singh said. The Proba-3 mission involves two satellites that will work together to create a 144-meter-long instrument known as a solar coronagraph. This will help scientists study the Sun’s corona, which is difficult to observe due to the brightness of the Sun’s disk. The ‘world’s first precision flight mission’ will allow scientists to study the Sun’s elusive corona with unprecedented closeness and detail.
The EU solar mission comes after Isro launched its indigenous solar mission Aditya L1 last September, where a solar observatory was sent Lagrange point L1 to study the Sun’s corona and observe the dynamics of its chromosphere. Speaking at the conclave, Delphin said: “India and the EU are natural partners in space, both pursuing strategic autonomy in navigation, Earth observation and communications technologies. We see enormous potential for joint projects in climate monitoring, cybersecurity and exploration. “