ISRO’s PSLV-C59 Mission: PROBA-3 Satellite Launch

ISRO’s PSLV-C59 Mission: PROBA-3 Satellite Launch

Sub : Sci

Sec : Space sector

Why in News

• The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) rescheduled the PSLV-C59/PROBA-3 satellite launch due to an anomaly detected during pre-launch preparations. Initially planned for December 4, 2024, the launch is now set for December 5, 2024.

About PROBA-3 Mission:

• Rocket: Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV-C59).
• Payload: European Space Agency’s (ESA) PROBA-3 satellites, weighing 550 kg.
• Launch Pad: First Launch Pad (FLP) at Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC-SHAR), Sriharikota.
• Predecessors: Proba-1 (2001) and Proba-2 (2009)
• Collaborators: Scientists from Spain, Belgium, Poland, Italy, and Switzerland.
• Mission Life: 2 years.
• Orbit: Highly elliptical orbit.
• Mission Configuration: 61st flight of PSLV, 26th flight using the XL configuration.

Satellite Configuration: Two satellites will separate post-launch and fly in tandem to form a solar coronagraph, an instrument that blocks the Sun’s bright light for better observation.

Why Study the Solar Corona?

• The corona’s temperature can exceed 2 million °F, making it challenging to observe.
• Understanding the corona is crucial as it is the origin of space weather phenomena like solar storms and winds, which impact:
  • Satellite communications
  • Navigation systems
  • Power grids on Earth.

About PSLV-C59:

• Height: 44.5 meters.
• Payload Capacity: 550 kg for PROBA-3 satellites.
• Led by New Space India Limited (NSIL) with ISRO’s technical expertise.
• Enables deeper solar research by observing the Sun’s corona.
• Tests autonomous satellite operations critical for future space missions.