The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is set to launch the European Space Agency’s (ESA) Proba-3 mission on December 4th, using the PSLV-XL rocket.

Proba-3 will deploy two spacecraft, the Occulter and Coronagraph, which will fly in close formation to create artificial solar eclipses, enabling detailed study of the Sun’s outer atmosphere, the corona.

This mission will offer scientists an unprecedented view of the corona, which is difficult to study due to its rarity during total solar eclipses.

Proba-3 will also test advanced formation flying techniques, paving the way for future high-precision space missions, Interesting Engineering has reported.

This marks the first ESA mission launched by ISRO since 2001.

Written by B.C. Begley