The Indian Space Research Organisation&rsquo;s (ISRO) PSLV-XL rocket is all set to launch the European Space Agency (ESA) Proba-3 Sun observation mission on Wednesday.
The PSLV-C59/Proba-3 mission will take flight on Wednesday at 4:08 pm from the First Launch Pad (FLP) at Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC-SHAR), Sriharikota.
&ldquo;Liftoff Day is Here!,&rdquo; ISRO shared in a post on social media platform X.
&ldquo;PSLV-C59, showcasing the proven expertise of ISRO, is ready to deliver ESA&rsquo;s Proba-3 satellites into orbit,&rdquo; ISRO said.
Proba-3 aims to study the Sun&rsquo;s faint corona closer to the solar rim. It is an in-orbit demonstration (IOD) mission of the ESA, which aims to demonstrate precise formation flying.
It consists of 2 spacecraft -- the Coronagraph Spacecraft (CSC) and the Occulter Spacecraft (OSC) -- and will be launched together in a stacked configuration aboard the PSLV-XL rocket, the ISRO noted. It is the 61st flight of PSLV and the 26th using PSLV-XL configuration.
 The spacecraft will create a 144-metre-long instrument known as a solar coronagraph, enabling scientists to study the Sun's corona which is difficult to observe due to the brightness of the solar disk. 
Being carried into a highly elliptical orbit will allow the pair to reach 60,000 km from Earth and descend as close as 600 km during each orbit.
The high-altitude orbit will help the satellites perform formation flying for about six hours at peak altitude -- where Earth&rsquo;s gravitational influence is reduced -- lowering propellant consumption and allowing for optimal positioning control.
ESA&rsquo;s Proba-3 will be the first mission to launch from India since the Proba-1 mission in 2001, underscoring deepening space collaboration.&nbsp;
The Proba-3 satellites were flown to the Chennai airport from Liege in Belgium, following which they were trucked to the spaceport at Sriharikota.
PSLV-C59 vehicle will carry the Proba-3 spacecraft into a highly elliptical orbit as a dedicated commercial mission of NewSpace India Limited (NSIL). The launch also reflects India&rsquo;s growing contributions to global space exploration.
&ldquo;This mission, powered by NSIL with ISRO&rsquo;s engineering excellence, reflects the strength of international collaboration. A proud milestone in India&rsquo;s space journey and a shining example of global partnerships,&rdquo; ISRO said.&nbsp;
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&mdash;IANS

ESA’s Proba-3 Satellites Set for Liftoff from Sriharikota

Proba-3 Mission Marks a Milestone in India-Europe Space Partnership

ISRO to Launch ESA's Proba-3 Sun Mission

Proba-3 Mission Marks a Milestone in India-Europe Space Partnership

December 4, 2024 | 17:02 IST