Tirupati:The Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) successfully launched the European Space Agency’s (ESA) Proba-3 mission aboard the PSLV-C59 rocket on Thursday. The launch took place at 4.04 pm from the first launch pad at Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota (SDSC-SHAR), marking a milestone in international collaboration involving New Space India Ltd (NSIL), Isro, and ESA.
The PSLV-C59 carried two satellites for the Proba-3 (Project for Onboard Autonomy) mission. These satellites were deployed into their designated orbits with precision 18 minutes after lift-off. “Mission Success! The PSLV-C59/PROBA-3 Mission has successfully achieved its objectives, deploying ESA’s satellites into their designated orbit with precision,” ISRO announced on social media platform X.
Initially scheduled for Wednesday, the Proba 3 mission was postponed due to a propulsion system glitch detected in one of the satellites just minutes before launch. Following rectification of the issue, the revised countdown commenced, leading to a flawless launch on Thursday evening.
“PSLV-C59 has successfully soared into the skies, marking the commencement of a global mission led by NSIL, with ISRO’s technical expertise, to deploy ESA’s groundbreaking Proba 3 satellites. A proud moment celebrating the synergy of international collaboration and India’s space achievements”, ISRO said in its social media post on ‘X’.
Proba-3, the latest addition to ESA's in-orbit demonstration missions, involves two satellites launched together to study the Sun's corona, or outer atmosphere. The two satellites - Coronagraph Spacecraft (CSC) and Occulter Spacecraft (OSC) - will maintain a precise formation, separated by 150 metres, to create artificial solar eclipses in orbit. This setup allows continuous observation of the faint solar corona for scientific research.
The mission demonstrates advanced technologies in formation flying, orbital rendezvous, and precision manoeuvring. These capabilities pave the way for future applications in human spaceflight, satellite servicing, and other proximity operations. The twin satellites also serve as a testbed for innovative metrology sensors and control algorithms, expanding the horizons of mission control methods.
