Sriharikota (Andhra Pradesh): The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) successfully launched the PSLV-C59/PROBA-3 mission on Thursday, marking another milestone in India’s space exploration journey.
The Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV-C59) carried the Proba-3 spacecraft, a technology demonstration mission by the European Space Agency (ESA), into a highly elliptical orbit. The mission was postponed by a day due to a detected anomaly in the PROBA-3 spacecraft, ensuring the flawless execution of the launch.
About the Proba-3 Mission
- Proba-3, a collaboration between ISRO and NewSpace India Limited (NSIL), represents ESA’s first precision formation-flying mission.
- The mission involves two satellites flying in a fixed configuration to form a single large structure in space.
- The satellites will create a 150-metre-long solar coronagraph, enabling detailed studies of the Sun’s faint corona, closer to the solar rim than ever before.
Scientific and Technological Goals
- Formation Flying: The mission showcases precise positioning between the two spacecraft, a significant technological breakthrough for future space missions.
- Solar Observation: The alignment of the Occulter Spacecraft (OSC) and Coronagraph Spacecraft (CSC) will allow uninterrupted views of the Sun’s corona, offering new insights into solar activity.
- Advanced Technology Validation: The mission serves as a testbed for innovative technologies, including advanced metrology sensors, control algorithms, and rendezvous techniques.
PSLV’s Capabilities
The Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) is a reliable workhorse for ISRO and India’s first launch vehicle to feature liquid stages.
- The PSLV-C59 mission involved a four-stage configuration with a total payload mass of approximately 320 tonnes.
- ISRO’s PSLV has a long history of successful missions, with its first successful launch dating back to October 1994.
This successful mission highlights ISRO’s commitment to fostering international collaboration in space technology and science. By enabling ESA’s precision formation-flying objectives, India continues to solidify its position as a key player in global space exploration.