ISRO Set to Launch PROBA-3 Mission Satellites from Sriharikota on December 4
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Sriharikota (Andhra Pradesh), Dec 3 (NationPress) The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has confirmed that the anticipated lift-off for the PSLV-C59/PROBA-3 mission satellites is set for December 4 (Wednesday), at 4:06 p.m. from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre, located in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh.
The mission will involve the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV)-C59 carrying approximately satellites with a combined weight of nearly 550 kg into a highly elliptical orbit.
The PROBA-3 mission serves as an "In-Orbit Demonstration (IOD) mission" orchestrated by the European Space Agency (ESA).
In a post on X regarding the upcoming launch, the space organization stated, "The PSLV-C59/PROBA-3 Mission, marking the 61st flight of PSLV and the 26th utilizing the PSLV-XL configuration, will transport ESA's PROBA-3 satellites (~550kg) into a highly elliptical orbit."
ISRO elaborated on the mission's objective, stating, "The goal is to demonstrate precise formation flying." The mission comprises two spacecraft: the Coronagraph Spacecraft (CSC) and the Occulter Spacecraft (OSC), which will be launched in a "stacked configuration" (one atop the other).
The PSLV is a launch vehicle designed to carry satellites and various other payloads into space, meeting ISRO's specifications. This vehicle is notable for being India's first equipped with liquid stages.
The inaugural launch of the PSLV took place successfully in October 1994.
According to ISRO, the PSLV-C59 will consist of four launch stages.
The vehicle is expected to lift a total mass of around 320 tonnes.
The organization also emphasized that this launch mission illustrates the trusted precision of the PSLV and its collaboration with other agencies.
ISRO stated, "This mission exemplifies the trusted precision of PSLV and the cooperation of NSIL (NewSpace India Limited), ISRO, and ESA."
The previous PSLV launch was PSLV-C58, which successfully deployed the XPOSAT satellite into an "Eastward low inclination orbit on January 1, 2024".
The ESA noted that Proba-3 is the world's first mission focusing on precision formation flying, aimed at studying the solar corona, the outermost and hottest layer of the Sun's atmosphere.
This satellite, also known as the X-ray Polarimeter Satellite, represents India's first dedicated scientific satellite by ISRO, tasked with conducting research on space-based polarization measurements of X-ray emissions from celestial sources.
