Isro started a revised countdown on Thursday for the launch of the European Space Agency’s Proba-3 mission, following a delay attributable to “an anomaly detected” within the satellite tv for pc propulsion system.
The Bengaluru-based house company rescheduled the launch of the European Space Agency’s (ESA) Proba-3 mission to December 5 at 4.04 pm, after a request from ESA. It was initially scheduled for Wednesday at 4.08 pm from their spaceport.
Sharing a submit on X, Isro mentioned, “PSLV-C59/PROBA-3 Mission. Countdown commenced. Lift-off time 16.04 pm IST, fifth December 2024. Stay tuned as PSLV-C59 prepares to deploy ESA’s Proba-3 satellites into orbit.”
“Probas,” a Latin phrase, interprets to “Let’s attempt.”
- The Proba-3 (Project for Onboard Anatomy) has two satellites: Coronagraph (310kgs) and Occulter (240kgs).
- These spacecraft are designed to function in exact formation, sustaining accuracy to a millimetre, to look at the Corona, the Sun’s outer ambiance.
- According to ESA, the Sun’s corona is rather more hotter than its floor and serves because the origin of house climate, making it a topic of considerable scientific and sensible curiosity
- The main purpose is to showcase exact formation flying capabilities, with each spacecraft items being deployed concurrently in a stacked association as soon as they attain the meant orbital place.
- The PSLV-C59 rocket, standing 44.5 meters tall, marks its 61st flight and the twenty sixth mission using the
PSLV-XL variant , designed for deploying heavier satellites. - Following lift-off at 4:04 PM, the 2 satellites, Coronagraph and Occulter, will go on an 18-minute journey to realize their designated orbit.
- Once in place, the 2 spacecraft will function 150 meters aside, functioning as a unified satellite tv for pc system.
- This configuration permits the Occulter to dam the Sun’s photo voltaic disk, enabling the Coronagraph to look at and examine the Sun’s corona, or outer ambiance, for scientific analysis.
The ESA contract has been secured by NewSpace India Ltd, Isro’s business division.
For Isro, moreover offering its trusted workhorse PSLV car for the launch, this mission would supply key insights on taking on scientific experiments on the Sun after its maiden mission–Aditya-L1 which was efficiently launched in September 2023.
The mission, supported by the General Support Technology Programme, entails satellites that can method the photo voltaic rim for as much as six hours per session, with every spacecraft following roughly 19-hour Earth orbits.
The mission had been anticipated as a landmark collaboration, marking ESA’s return to launch with Isro after 23 years. The launch was notably difficult, demanding that the PSLV carry the spacecraft right into a extremely elliptical orbit with an uncommon apogee and perigee.
