Proba-3 Mission Launch Rescheduled: Everything You Should Know About this Mission

Proba-3 Mission Launch Rescheduled: The European Space Agency’s (ESA) Proba-3 mission, initially set for launch today, will now take place tomorrow at 16:12 IST. The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) shared the update on its X account, citing a detected anomaly in the spacecraft as the reason for the delay. The mission will launch from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre aboard ISRO’s trusted Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV-XL). The event will be streamed live on ISRO’s YouTube channel and ESA’s Web TV.

A Unique Mission to Study the Sun

Proba-3 is designed to provide unprecedented insights into the Sun’s corona, the faint outermost layer of the Sun. The mission features two spacecraft—‘Occulter’ and ‘Coronagraph’—flying in precise formation, separated by just 150 meters.

• Occulter: Blocks the Sun’s bright light, creating an artificial solar eclipse.
• Coronagraph: Captures detailed images of the Sun’s corona during each 19-hour orbit, allowing for six hours of continuous observation.

This innovative configuration aims to advance our understanding of the Sun and its impact on space weather.

Due to an anomaly detected in PROBA-3 spacecraft PSLV-C59/PROBA-3 launch rescheduled to tomorrow at 16:12 hours.

— ISRO (@isro) December 4, 2024

A Historic ESA-ISRO Collaboration

The Proba-3 mission represents a milestone in ESA-ISRO partnerships, marking the first joint mission since Proba-1 in 2001. By leveraging ISRO’s cost-effective PSLV-XL, the spacecraft will be placed in a highly elliptical orbit over 60,000 kilometers from Earth. ESA views Proba-3 is more than just solar research—it’s a critical demonstration of precision formation flying. This technology could revolutionize satellite constellations and multi-unit spacecraft for future applications.

India’s Growing Role in Global Space Exploration

India’s contribution to the Proba-3 mission highlights its emergence as a leading space exploration hub. ISRO’s PSLV-XL was chosen for its reliability, precision, and cost efficiency, making it an ideal platform for experimental missions like Proba-3. This collaboration reflects the power of international partnerships to push scientific and technological boundaries. Proba-3 not only promises groundbreaking discoveries about the Sun but also reinforces India’s reputation as a dependable partner in cutting-edge space initiatives.

Also read: NASA Astronaut Sunita Williams Leads Space Farming Research

SUMMARY

The Proba-3 mission, a joint project between the European Space Agency (ESA) and the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), was originally set to launch today but has been delayed to tomorrow at 16:12 IST. The delay was caused by a problem with the spacecraft. The mission will now lift off from India's Satish Dhawan Space Centre using ISRO's reliable PSLV-XL rocket. The launch will be streamed live on ISRO’s YouTube and ESA’s Web TV. Proba-3’s goal is to study the Sun’s outer layer, called the corona, using two spacecraft flying in precise formation. One spacecraft will block the Sun’s light to create an artificial solar eclipse, while the other will take images of the corona. This will allow scientists to study the Sun in detail for six hours during each orbit. This mission is the first partnership between ESA and ISRO since 2001. India’s contribution, through ISRO’s PSLV-XL, is important for making the mission affordable and reliable. Proba-3 also aims to demonstrate advanced satellite technology, which could be used for future space missions. Overall, Proba-3 shows how international collaboration can lead to important scientific discoveries while also enhancing space exploration technology.