European Space Agency introduces VIGIL- Earth’s solar defender.

Why in news?

• Recently the European Space Agency (ESA) introduced its new one-of-a-kind mission named “Vigil”, which is meant to protect the Earth from ‘Vigil’ is derived from the Latin word ‘vigilia’ meaning wakefulness, while ‘vigilis exceptus’ means sentry, or guard.
• The mission was previously named “Lagrange” after the location the mission spacecraft will be sent but later the name has been changed to ‘Vigil’.
• The Vigil spacecraft will be launched to the fifth Lagrange(L5) point which is 150 million kilometres from both Earth and the sun.

Lagrange Points:

• Lagrange points are the locations in outer space that are gravitationally stable as compared to other locations.
• The L5 is the fifth Lagrange point which is located at an equal distance from both the Sun and Earth. The James Webb Space Telescope and the Gaia spacecraft, launched by ESA are located at the second Lagrange point (L2).

Functions of ESA Vigil:

• The spacecraft at L5 would stream a constant feed of near-real-time data on hazardous solar activity, before rolling into Earth’s view.
• The ESA Vigil positioned in an unvisited position in space will help to warn earth about the oncoming solar storms which can damage power grids, disrupt telecommunications and threaten satellites and the vital services they provide.
• This will provide more time to protect spacecraft in orbit, infrastructure on the ground and explorers now and in the future, unshielded by Earth’s magnetic field and vulnerable to our star’s violent outbursts.
• As part of ESA’s Vision for the future, the new Protect ‘accelerator’ will ensure the resilience of technologies on which modernity depends.
• ESA Vigil Mission Patch:
• The design of the patch features a stylised wing of protection which shelters Earth from the sun’s hazardous radiation.
• The L5 point is emphasised with the five stars shown just above the blue Earth.