‘Mission Successful’: ISRO Places European Sun Observation Satellite Proba-3 In Orbit – News18

Last Updated:December 05, 2024, 16:49 IST

Soon after lift-off, ISRO said the two satellites onboard the PSLV rocket of Proba-3 mission have separated successfully and gone into their designated orbit

The European satellite, Proba-3, successfully launched into space on Thursday from Sriharikota, delayed by a day from its scheduled lift-off on December 4 due to a technical snag.

Proba-3 is a cutting-edge Sun-observing mission aboard the PSLV-C59, the flagship rocket of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). It aims to advance global efforts to understand the economic and technological risks of space weather.

The 44.5 metre tall polar satellite launch vehicle blasted off majestically from the first launch pad at the latest time at 4.04 pm. Soon after lift-off, ISRO said the two satellites onboard the PSLV rocket of Proba-3 mission have separated successfully and gone into their designated orbit.

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“Mission Success! The PSLV-C59/PROBA-3 Mission has successfully achieved its launch objectives, deploying ESA’s satellites into their designated orbit with precision. A testament to the trusted performance of PSLV, the collaboration of NSIL (NewSpace India Ltd) and ISRO, and ESA’s (European Space Agency) innovative goals,” ISRO said in a post on X.

Earlier, the space agency said its revised 8.5-hour countdown for the launch of the Proba-3 mission was “progressing smoothly”. The launch was originally planned at 4.08 pm on Wednesday (December 4).

But, minutes before the lift-off, following the request from the European Space Agency (ESA), ISRO rescheduled the launch of PSLV-C59/PROBA-3 to December 5, 4.04 pm. An anomaly was detected in the satellite propulsion system.

Proba-3 (Project for Onboard Anatomy) consists of two satellites in which two spacecraft will fly together as one, maintaining precise formation down to a single millimetre to study the corona, the Sun’s outer atmosphere.

‘Probas’ is a Latin word, which refers to ‘Let’s try’. The mission objective is to demonstrate precise formation flying and two spacecraft – ‘Coronagraph’ and ‘Occulter’ will be launched together in a stacked configuration.

NewSpace India Ltd (NSIL), the commercial arm of ISRO has bagged the order from the ESA for the launch. Prior to this launch, ISRO had successfully launched the Proba-1 rocket by the ESA in 2001.

(With PTI inputs)