ESA's Proba-3 Mission Launched to Study Sun's Corona with Unprecedented Precision

The mission, launched by ISRO's PSLV-C59, employs two satellites flying in precise formation to create artificial solar eclipses for solar research.

Proba-3, a European Space Agency mission, uses two satellites to create artificial solar eclipses, enabling detailed observation of the Sun's corona.
The mission launched aboard ISRO's PSLV-C59 rocket from Sriharikota, India, into a highly elliptical orbit ranging from 600 km to 60,530 km above Earth.
The satellites, separated by 150 meters, autonomously maintain millimeter-level precision to block the Sun's glare for up to six hours per orbit.
Key scientific goals include investigating solar wind, coronal mass ejections, and the Sun's energy output, contributing to space weather and climate research.
Proba-3 also demonstrates advanced formation flying technologies, potentially paving the way for future multi-satellite missions.