ISRO gears up for second attempt to launch Proba-3 on PSLV-XL from Sriharikota today
ISRO had initially planned to launch the PSLV-C59 rocket from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota on Wednesday. However, less than an hour before liftoff, an anomaly was detected.
A day after the launch of Europe’s Proba-3 mission was cancelled, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is set to attempt the launch og the twin spacecraft again on Thursday.
The lift-off of the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV-C59) is scheduled for 4:12 PM IST. This follows a postponement due to an anomaly detected in the spacecraft shortly before its scheduled launch on December 4.
“As part of standard pre-launch preparations, a technical issue was detected in the Proba-3 spacecraft,” the European Space Agency said shortly after the update from Isro.
The Proba-3 mission is a significant collaboration with the European Space Agency (ESA), marking the first satellite launch between the two agencies since 2001.
The mission aims to demonstrate advanced formation-flying technology with two satellites: the Coronagraph Spacecraft (CSC) and the Occulter Spacecraft (OSC).
These satellites will work in tandem to create artificial solar eclipses, allowing scientists to study the Sun’s corona without interference from its bright disk.
ISRO had initially planned to launch the PSLV-C59 rocket from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota on Wednesday. However, less than an hour before liftoff, an anomaly was detected, prompting ISRO to reschedule the launch.
The agency announced the new launch time via social media, emphasising its commitment to ensuring mission success.
The Proba-3 satellites will be placed into a highly elliptical orbit, reaching altitudes of up to 60,530 kilometers while descending as low as 600 kilometers. This unique configuration enables extended observations of solar phenomena for up to six hours at a time.
The precision formation flying required for this mission is unprecedented and will allow scientists to gather valuable data about solar activity and its impact on space weather.
The Proba-3 mission not only aims to enhance our understanding of solar dynamics but also showcases ISRO’s engineering capabilities and commitment to international collaboration in space science.
