The 44.5-meter-tall Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle lifted off from the first launch pad at 4:04 PM | Image: X/ISRO
Sriharikota: The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) successfully launched the European Space Agency’s (ESA) Proba-3 Sun observation mission aboard the PSLV-C59 launch vehicle on Thursday. The mission lifted off from the First Launch Pad (FLP) at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC-SHAR) in Sriharikota.
The Proba-3 mission, a collaborative effort between ESA and ISRO, aims to study the Sun’s faint corona near the solar rim. This mission marks ESA’s first satellite launch from India since the Proba-1 mission in 2001, highlighting a deepening partnership in space exploration.
The launch was led by NewSpace India Ltd (NSIL), ISRO’s commercial arm, with the PSLV-C59 vehicle placing the Proba-3 spacecraft into a highly elliptical orbit. The spacecraft comprises two components—the Coronagraph Spacecraft (CSC) and the Occulter Spacecraft (OSC)—launched together in a stacked configuration. Once operational, the spacecraft will form a 144-meter-long solar coronagraph to enable precise studies of the Sun's corona, which is challenging to observe due to the brightness of the solar disk.
In a statement on X, ISRO said, "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 further described the mission as a celebration of international collaboration and India’s growing contributions to global space exploration.
The launch, initially postponed due to an undisclosed anomaly, was eventually carried out successfully. The Proba-3 satellites were transported to India from Liege, Belgium, via Chennai airport and then trucked to Sriharikota for the launch.
PSLV-C59 marks the 61st flight of the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) and the 26th using the PSLV-XL configuration, demonstrating the consistent reliability of this launch vehicle.
The mission, categorized as an in-orbit demonstration (IOD), also aims to showcase precise formation-flying capabilities, cementing ISRO's engineering expertise on the global stage.
With this achievement, ISRO continues to underscore its role as a pivotal player in international space missions, enabling scientific breakthroughs through collaboration and innovation.
With IANS inputs