European Space Agency (THIS) prepares the Vigil mission to launch, the first space observatory, which will be permanently located at the L5 Lagrangian point of the Sun-Earth system. Located at a distance 150 million km from Earth, this point provides a unique side view of the Sun, allowing to observe its activity several days before, as active regions return to Earth's field of view.
The Vigil mission will operate 24/7, providing real-time data to forecast hazardous solar events, such as coronal mass ejections (CMEs). These emissions, consisting of high-energy particles and plasma, can damage satellites, disrupt communication networks, power grids and aviation systems. According to the estimates of the insurance company Lloyd's of London, one powerful solar storm can cause global economic losses of up to 2,4 trillion US dollars over five years.
Vigil is equipped with six scientific instruments, in particular, a coronagraph for observing the solar corona, magnetometer for measuring magnetic fields, plasma analyzer and high-energy particle detector. These instruments will allow us to detect solar flares and assess their impact on Earth 4-5 days before a potential impact, which will greatly improve the accuracy of space weather forecasts compared to the current 1-2 days.
As a key element of ESA's Space Security Program, Vigil will become the basis of global early warning systems. The mission will cooperate with other observatories, such as the American GOES and the future SWFO-L1, located at point L1, to create a comprehensive monitoring network. Vigil will also support missions to the Moon and Mars, where protection from solar radiation is critical for astronauts and equipment.
Launch of Vigil, scheduled for 2031 year, will be carried out using the Ariane rocket 6 from the Kourou Cosmodrome in French Guiana. Mission, developed with the participation of Airbus Defense and Space (Great Britain) and other European companies, emphasizes Europe's leadership in protecting against space threats and strengthening the global security of technological infrastructure.
Source: https://www.spacedaily.com