ISRO successfully launches PSLV-C59 rocket with European Space Agency’s Proba-3 satellites

ISRO successfully launches PSLV-C59 mission with ESA's Proba-3 satellites, demonstrating precise formation flying for solar study.

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) on Thursday (December 5, 2024) announced that it has successfully launched the PSLV-C59 mission with the European Space Agency’s Proba-3 satellites from Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh. The two satellites onboard PSLV rocket of Proba-3 mission separated successfully, ISRO said.

“Mission Success! The PSLV-C59/PROBA-3 Mission has successfully achieved its launch objectives, deploying ESA’s satellites into their designated orbit with precision,” ISRO said in a post on X.

“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,” it said.

The launch was rescheduled to 4:04 pm on Thursday (December 5, 2024) and a revised countdown was set after sorting out an anomaly detected in the propulsion system of one of the satellites on Wednesday (December 4, 2024), minutes before the launch.

Proba-3 (Project for Onboard Anatomy) consists of two satellites in which two spacecraft would fly together as one, maintaining precise formation down to a single millimetre to study the Corona, the Sun’s outer atmosphere. NewSpace India Ltd, the commercial arm of ISRO has bagged the order from the ESA for the launch.

The mission objective is to demonstrate precise formation flying and two spacecraft - ‘Coronagraph’ and ‘Occulter’ would be launched together in a stacked configuration, ISRO said. ISRO had successfully launched the Proba-1 rocket by the European Space Agency in 2001.

(With PTI inputs)