ИСТИНА

PROBA-3 is the next ESA mission in the PROBA line of small technology demonstration satellites. The main goal of PROBA-3 is in-orbit demonstration of formation flying techniques and technologies. The mission will consist of two spacecraft together forming a giant (150 m long) solar coronagraph called ASPIICS (Association of Spacecraft for Polarimetric and Imaging Investigation of the Corona of the Sun). The bigger spacecraft will host the telescope, and the smaller spacecraft will carry the external occulter of the coronagraph. ASPIICS heralds the next generation of solar coronagraphs that will use formation flying to observe the inner corona in eclipse-like conditions for extended periods of time. The PROBA-3 mission profile will be reviewed, the ASPIICS instrument design will be described, and the scientific objectives of the mission will be discussed. PROBA-3 is planned to be launched in the end of 2019 or in the beginning of 2020. The scientific objectives of PROBA-3 will be reviewed in the context of other future solar and heliospheric space missions (e.g. Solar Orbiter and Solar Probe Plus). Perspectives for joint observations will be discussed.