The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has postponed the launch of the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV)-C59 carrying the European Space Agency’s (ESA) Proba-3 mission. Originally scheduled for 4:08 pm IST today, the launch has been rescheduled to 4:12 pm IST on Thursday, December 5, 2024, due to an anomaly detected in the Proba-3 spacecraft.
Proba-3 is a technology demonstration mission by ESA, marking the world’s first precision formation-flying endeavour. It consists of two satellites—the Coronagraph Spacecraft (CSC) and the Occulter Spacecraft (OSC)—which will fly in a fixed configuration approximately 150 meters apart. This arrangement will create an artificial solar eclipse, allowing unprecedented study of the Sun’s faint corona closer to the solar rim than ever before.
The mission is a collaborative effort between ISRO and NewSpace India Limited (NSIL), with the PSLV-XL variant tasked with delivering the approximately 550 kg payload into a highly elliptical orbit. This launch signifies a significant partnership between ISRO and ESA, marking ESA’s return to launching missions with ISRO after 23 years.
ISRO has confirmed that the countdown is progressing smoothly, with all systems green for the rescheduled launch. The mission will proceed through multiple stages of ignition and separation until the Proba-3 satellites are deployed into their intended orbit.
This mission aims to advance solar research and validate innovative spaceflight technologies, including acquisition, rendezvous, proximity operations, and formation flying. By maintaining precise positioning, the two satellites will function as an orbital laboratory, opening new methods of mission control and scientific observation.
The PSLV-C59 mission underscores India’s growing capabilities in space exploration and its commitment to international collaboration in advancing scientific knowledge.
