Isro’s PSLV-XL successfully deploys Europe’s Proba-3 after picture-perfect launch

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) successfully launched the European Space Agency’s (ESA) Proba-3 mission on Thursday.

The Indian workhorse rocket lifted off at 4:04 PM IST from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota. This mission aims to enhance our understanding of the Sun’s corona, the outer layer of its atmosphere, and marks a significant collaboration between ISRO and ESA.

The launch, which was initially planned for Wednesday, had to be rescheduled after a technical glitch was detected in the Proba-3 spacecraft.

The anomaly involved a redundant propulsion system in the Coronagraph Spacecraft, which is crucial for maintaining the satellite’s orientation and precise pointing in space. ESA teams in Redu, Belgium, to investigate and develop a software solution to address the problem clearing the way for a Thursday launch.

WHAT IS PROBA-3 MISSION?
Proba-3 consists of two satellites: the Coronagraph and the Occulter. These twin satellites will operate in a precise formation, maintaining a distance of 150 meters apart while flying together. This unique configuration allows the Occulter to block out the Sun’s bright disk, enabling the Coronagraph to observe the faint corona in unprecedented detail.

This artificial eclipse will provide scientists with up to six hours of continuous observation time, equivalent to approximately 50 natural solar eclipses each year. Proba-3 is expected to significantly contribute to space weather prediction by providing vital data about solar phenomena that can affect satellite operations and communications on Earth.

This mission complements India’s ongoing Aditya L1 mission, which was launched in September 2023 and focuses on solar observations.

BIG MILESTONE FOR ISRO
The PSLV-XL configuration, equipped with six strap-on solid rocket boosters, each carrying 12 tonnes of propellant, delivered the spacecraft in a precise elliptical orbit, once again confirming its reliability in launching payload to low Earth orbit.

The spacecraft’s elliptical orbit is vital as, at its farthest point of over 60,000 km from Earth, the gravitational effect of the planet would be cancelled ensuring a six hours of formation flying of the two probes.

The Proba-3 mission is not only a technological demonstration but also a step forward in international cooperation in space science. This collaboration marks ESA’s return to launching missions with ISRO after over two decades, highlighting India’s growing role in global space exploration.

The launch was commissioned by the European Space Agency via Isro’s commercial arm New Space India Limited.