The European Space Agency’s Proba-3 satellites are being carried by ISRO’s PSLV-C59 mission, which was successfully launched from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota on December 5, 2024. At 4:04 PM IST, the launch took place after being initially postponed by one day because of an irregularity. ISRO Chairman S. Somanath said the mission’s goals, including putting the satellites into their assigned orbit, were meticulously accomplished.

Goals and Accomplishments of the Mission

A component of ESA’s in-orbit demonstration programs is the Proba-3 mission. It consists of two spacecraft that are engineered to fly in exact formation, with control down to a millimeter. The satellites will produce man-made solar eclipses while in orbit, allowing for longer observations of the Sun’s corona, according to information released by ESA.

According to many accounts, the Australian ground station Yatharagga confirmed receiving signals from the satellites shortly after separation. ESA’s mission control center in Redu, Belgium, is processing telemetry data.

Plans for Proba-3 Operations

During their initial commissioning phase, the satellites that were stacked together during launch will continue to be connected. The operational phase, which includes formation flying and individual check-outs, is anticipated to start in early 2025, according to Damien Galano, the Proba-3 mission manager for ESA. During this phase, the twin spacecraft will synchronize their maneuvers to observe the Sun’s corona.

PSLV-C59: An Important ISRO Milestone

This is the 26th flight of the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle in its PSLV-XL form and the 61st overall. The vehicle’s reputation as a trustworthy medium-lift launch vehicle for clients abroad has been further cemented after it once again shown its dependability.