A satellite for the European Space Agency’s (ESA) Proba-3 mission was successfully launched by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) on December 5, according to reports from New Delhi.
The launch occurred at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre on Sriharikota Island, Andhra Pradesh, India. It was initially scheduled for December 4 but was delayed at ESA’s request due to an anomaly detected in the satellite’s propulsion system. The mission was launched aboard the PSLV-C59 rocket, which has a total payload capacity of approximately 320 tons.
The PSLV rocket, operational since 1994, is India’s first launcher equipped with liquid-fuel stages and is used to deploy satellites and other payloads into space.
For the Proba-3 mission, the rocket will place its satellites into an elliptical orbit, reaching a maximum altitude of 60,000 km and a minimum of 600 km above Earth. This unique orbit allows the two satellites to operate and fly in formation for six hours, reducing the influence of gravitational forces and conserving fuel needed for position adjustments.
Proba-3 comprises two satellites: the Coronagraph (310 kg) and the Occulter (240 kg). These spacecraft will fly in precise formation to study the Sun’s corona, the outermost layer of its atmosphere.
According to ESA, the solar corona is significantly hotter than the Sun’s surface and is the origin of solar storms, making it a critical area of research with both scientific and practical implications.
The Proba-3 mission involves contributions from 14 countries, with Belgium providing the largest financial investment. Numerous Belgian companies and scientists are also part of the mission. Researchers hope Proba-3 will succeed, marking a significant milestone in understanding the universe and advancing space exploration.
