ISRO to launch ESA's Proba-3 mission for solar research using PSLV from Sriharikota today
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is set to launch the European Space Agency's (ESA) Proba-3 mission on Wednesday, December 4, at 4:08 pm IST. The mission will take off from ISRO's Sriharikota spaceport in Andhra Pradesh using the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV).
This mission, a collaborative effort with ISRO's commercial arm NewSpace India Limited (NSIL), will carry two spacecraft, the Coronagraph and the Occulter, into a high Earth orbit. Proba-3's primary goal is to study the Sun's outer atmosphere, the corona, to help ESA scientists better understand solar activities and space weather.
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The PSLV launch, marking the 61st mission for the PSLV and the 26th for the PSLV-XL variant, will see the 44.5-meter-tall rocket place the Proba-3 satellites into orbit, with a combined payload of 550 kg. About 18 minutes after liftoff, the satellites will separate and enter their designated orbit. The spacecraft will have an orbital period of 19.7 hours, with an apogee of 60,530 km and a perigee of 600 km from Earth.
In preparation for the launch, ISRO scientists offered prayers at the Sri Venkateswara Swamy Temple in Tirumala, Tirupati, as part of the mission's launch rituals.
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One of the key features of the Proba-3 mission is its precision formation flying technology. The Coronagraph and Occulter spacecraft will fly in close formation, separated by just 150 meters. This formation will allow the Occulter to block the Sun's disc, providing a clear view of the Sun's corona for the Coronagraph. This innovative technology will enable continuous solar observations, similar to having a “solar eclipse on demand.”
Proba-3's study of the Sun's corona, which is hotter than the Sun's surface, will help scientists gather valuable data on solar phenomena. These phenomena,
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