ISRO successfully launched the European Space Agency's (ESA) Proba-3 mission from Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh. The launch had been delayed by a day because of a problem found in the satellite's propulsion system during earlier checks.

"Liftoff Achieved! PSLV-C59 has successfully soared into the skies, marking the commencement of a global mission led by NSIL with ISRO’s technical expertise to deploy ESA’s groundbreaking PROBA-3 satellites. A proud moment celebrating the synergy of international collaboration and India’s space achievements!" ISRO tweeted after the successful launch.

The mission is led by NewSpace India Ltd. (NSIL), the commercial arm of ISRO, which secured the order from the ESA.

About the Proba-3 Mission

The Proba-3 mission, short for "Project for Onboard Anatomy," consists of two satellites: the Coronagraph (310 kg) and the Occulter (240 kg). These satellites will work together in precise formation, maintaining accuracy down to a single millimetre. Their mission is to study the Sun's corona, its outer atmosphere, which is hotter than the Sun itself and is where space weather originates.

The ESA says that studying the corona, which is the sun's outer layer, is very important because it helps us understand space weather. Space weather can affect satellites and communication systems on Earth.

This mission is also a big step for ISRO in improving its research on the Sun. It follows the success of the Aditya-L1 mission, which was launched in September 2023.

Mission highlights

The Proba-3 mission shows how two spacecraft can travel together in a precise formation. The satellites will stay stacked on top of each other while they orbit the Earth, and it will take 18 minutes after the launch to reach their correct orbit.

The PSLV-C59 rocket, which is 44.5 meters tall, carried the Proba-3 mission. This was its 61st flight, and it was the 26th time the PSLV-XL version was used. This version of the rocket is perfect for launching heavy satellites.

The mission is funded by the European Space Agency's (ESA) General Support Technology Programme. It aims to help scientists learn more about the sun and improve space technology.