ESA's Proba-3 mission is set to launch on December 4, 2024, from India's Satish Dhawan Space Centre, marking a significant collaboration between the European Space Agency and the Indian Space Research Organisation.

With a budget of €200 million, Proba-3 aims to produce 50 artificial solar eclipses annually, greatly enhancing our understanding of the solar corona.

The mission's innovative approach involves positioning one spacecraft, the 'Occulter', 150 meters from the 'Coronagraph' to create artificial solar eclipses that will allow for detailed observations of the sun's corona.

This mission continues the Proba series of experimental missions that began in 2001, showcasing advancements in technology and international collaboration.

Proba-3 will utilize two spacecraft performing precise formation flying, maintaining a distance of no more than one millimeter apart to achieve high-accuracy observations.

A precision laser metrology system will ensure the spacecraft's alignment, achieving remarkable accuracy during tests conducted in February 2024 in Belgium.

Additional sensors, including inter-satellite radio links and visual LED imaging, will support the precise positioning required for the mission's success.

Data gathered from Proba-3 could improve predictions of solar weather events, such as coronal mass ejections and solar storms, which pose risks to both spacecraft and terrestrial infrastructure.

One of the mission's key scientific goals is to investigate why the solar corona is significantly hotter than the sun's surface, with temperatures exceeding 1 million degrees Celsius.

The launch will be broadcasted by ISRO and can be viewed on ESA Web TV and ISRO's YouTube channel, starting at 11:08 CET.

During its two-year mission, Proba-3 will complete an orbit every 19.7 hours, utilizing optical sensors and LEDs to maintain formation during observations.

Proba-3 is a collaborative international project led by Spain's SENER, involving 29 companies from 14 countries, with significant contributions from Airbus Defence and Space and Redwire.