The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is all set to launch the PSLV-C59/PROBA-3 mission on December 4, 2024, at 4:06 PM from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre SHAR in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh.
This mission will see the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) carrying approximately 550 kg of satellites into a highly elliptical orbit.
The PROBA-3 mission is a significant collaboration with the European Space Agency (ESA), aimed at conducting an In-Orbit Demonstration (IOD) mission. The goal of the mission is to demonstrate the ability to achieve precise formation flying with two satellites.
These satellites, the Coronagraph Spacecraft (CSC) and the Occulter Spacecraft (OSC), will be launched together in a stacked configuration, meaning one spacecraft will be placed on top of the other for the journey into space.
The PSLV-C59 mission will be the 61st flight of the PSLV family and the 26th using the PSLV-XL configuration. This highly trusted and precise launch vehicle will carry the PROBA-3 satellites into space, showcasing its continued success and reliability.
PSLV has long been a cornerstone of India’s space programme, being the country’s first launch vehicle equipped with liquid stages. The PSLV first took flight in October 1994, and since then, it has become one of the most trusted and used launch vehicles for various satellite missions.
The upcoming mission will consist of four stages of launch, with the total mass of the PSLV-C59 vehicle around 320 tonnes. The mission highlights ISRO’s commitment to precision in space operations, underscoring the successful collaboration between ISRO, NewSpace India Limited (NSIL), and the European Space Agency (ESA).
This partnership is a testament to the growing global cooperation in space exploration and technology.
ISRO’s emphasis on the PSLV’s trusted performance is evident in its consistent track record of successful launches, with PSLV-C59 expected to continue this legacy.
The launch will also be a significant step in the advancement of space technology, particularly in the area of formation flying and satellite precision.
The mission will pave the way for future research in space, where highly accurate and coordinated movements of multiple satellites will be vital for various scientific and commercial applications.
The PSLV-C59 mission follows the successful launch of PSLV-C58 earlier this year, which placed the XPOSAT satellite into an eastward low inclination orbit. XPOSAT is India’s first dedicated scientific satellite to carry out space-based polarisation measurements of X-ray emissions from celestial sources.
The successful execution of such missions further reinforces ISRO’s reputation for executing complex space operations with high precision and reliability.
Follow us
