ISRO Successfully Launches PSLV-C59/PROBA-3 Mission from Sriharikota
Sriharikota (Andhra Pradesh), December 5: The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) successfully launched the PSLV-C59/PROBA-3 mission from Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh, on Thursday. The launch vehicle, PSLV-C59, carried the Proba-3 spacecraft into a highly elliptical orbit as part of a dedicated commercial mission by NewSpace India Limited (NSIL).
The mission, originally scheduled for Wednesday, was delayed due to an anomaly detected in the PROBA-3 spacecraft.
This joint initiative between ISRO and NSIL features Proba-3, a technology demonstration mission by the European Space Agency (ESA). Proba-3 represents ESA’s first precision formation-flying mission. It involves two satellites flying together in a fixed configuration, forming a single large rigid structure in space. The mission showcases cutting-edge formation-flying and rendezvous technologies.
ESA stated that Proba-3 will serve as a platform for a large-scale scientific experiment. The two satellites will create a 150-meter-long solar coronagraph, enabling detailed studies of the Sun’s faint corona closer to the solar rim than ever before.
In addition to its scientific goals, Proba-3 aims to advance precise positioning between spacecraft using innovative metrology sensors and control algorithms. Acting as an orbital laboratory, the mission will demonstrate acquisition, rendezvous, proximity operations, and formation flying. These technologies are expected to revolutionize mission control approaches.
The mission involves two satellites maintaining a precise 150-meter alignment in space, positioned to allow the Occulter Spacecraft (OSC) to block the Sun’s solar disk for the Coronagraph Spacecraft (CSC). This setup facilitates uninterrupted observations of the Sun’s corona, providing valuable insights into solar dynamics.
The Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV), known for its versatility, remains a cornerstone of India’s space program. PSLV-C59, featuring a four-stage configuration, carried a total payload mass of approximately 320 tonnes. ISRO highlighted that PSLV has been a reliable workhorse since its first successful mission in October 1994.
This successful launch of PSLV-C59 marks another milestone for ISRO, showcasing India’s growing capabilities in space exploration and international collaborations.
