Omkar Dattatray
Indian Space Research Organization known as ISRO is persistently and continuously adding new feathers to its research achievements .ISRO PSLV -59 successfully launched with European Space Agency’s Proba-3. After being rescheduled for a day due to anomaly detected ,the ISRO on Thursday successfully launched the European Space Agency’s [ESA] Proba-3 mission abroad the PSLV -C59 rocket. PSLV-C59 carried Proba-3 spacecraft into a highly elliptical orbit as a Dedicated commercial mission of New Space India Limited [NSIL] on December 5,2024 at 16.04 Hrs.Proba-3 is an In-Orbit The vehicle took off with a powerful roar ,precisely at 4.04 P.m from the first launch pad at the SDSC ,Shriharkota ,the home to several rocket launches in India. This mission marks a global milestone as the world’s first precision formation -flying demonstration in space. It aims to study the Corona ,which is hotter than the Sun’s surface ,and explore the solar wind which is a stream of charged particles emanating from Sun ,says P.V.Venkitakrishnan ,former director of the capacity Building Programme office ,ISRO headquarters. He said that another flawless launch by the Indian Space Research Organization’s reliable workhorse ,the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle -PSLV ,the PSLV -C59/PROBA-3 today on 5th December 2024 successfully launched European Space Agency [ESA]PROBA-3 Satellites into a highly elliptical orbit .This marks the successful collaboration of New Space India Ltd [NSIL],ISRO &ESA.proba-3 is ESA’s and the world’s first precision formation -flying mission .A pair of satellites were flown together ,maintaining a fixed configuration as if they were a single large rigid structure in space ,to prove innovative formation flying and rendezvous technologies .The launch was originally planned at 14.08 hrs on Wednesday that is 4th December ,but was delayed by a day due to an anomaly detected in the PROBA-3 spacecraft .At 14.04hrs today on 5th December ,the rocket left the First Launch Pad from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre [SDSC],Sriharikota ,and roared into the clear blue sky .The ”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 satellite .A proud moment celebrating the synergy of international collaboration and India’s space achievements ,”ISRO said in its social media post.Proba-3 is an In-Orbit Demonstration mission of the ESA .The mission goal is to demonstrate the precise flying of formations .It consists of 2 spacecraft-the Coronagraph Spacecraft and the Occulter Spacecraft -and was launched together in a stacked configuration.Proba-3 will function as an orbital laboratory ,demonstrating acquisition ,rendezvous, proximity operations and formation flying while validating innovative metrology sensors and control algorithms ,opening up novel methods of OSC blocks out sion control .The two satellites will adopt a fixed configuration in space ,150m apart ,while lined up with the sun so that OSC blocks out the brilliant solar disk for the CSC .This will open up continuous views of the sun’s faint corona ,or surrounding atmosphere ,for scientific observation .ESA’s website said ,”A pair of spacecraft were launched together today from India with the potential to change the nature of future space missions .ESA’s twin Proba-3 platforms will perform precise formation flying down to a single millimeter ,as if they were one single giant spacecraft .To demonstrate their degree of control ,the pair will produce artificial solar eclipses in orbit ,giving prolonged views of the Sun’s ghostly surrounding atmosphere ,the corona .”Fourteen ESA Member States , including Canada ,came together on this mission ,which was set to demonstrate game -changing European technology in the areas of autonomous operations and precision maneuvering by delivering never-before -seen science results. Stacked together ,the two satellites separated from their upper at age about 18 minutes after launch. The pair will remain attached while initial commissioning occurs ,overseen by mission control at European Space Security and Education Centre ,ESEC ,in Redu ,Belgium.Proba-3 mission manager Damien Galano said ,”I am grateful to ISRO for this picture-perfect ascent to orbit .Now hard work really begins ,because to achieve Proba-3 mission goals ,the two satellites need to achieve positioning accuracy down to the thickness of the average fingernail while positioned one and half football pitches apart.” The latest and historical feat achieved by ISRO is the launch of PSLV-C59/PROBA-3Mission and by its launch most recently ISRO has once again created history .The PSLV-C59/PROBA-3Mission has successfully achieved its launch objectives ,deploying ESA’s satellites into the designated orbit with precision .Global Space Exploration Conference -GLEX 2025 will be held -7th -9th May 2025.The third developmental flight of SSLV is successful .The SSLV -D3 placed EOS -08 precisely into the orbit .ISRO completes its RLV technology demonstrations through LEX trio .For this historical and milestone launch ISRO chairman Dr Somanath was Live on Istagram. ISRO has on 5th December 2024launched PSLV-C59/PROBA-3 mission successfully .The Indian space Research organization -ISRO launched Europe’s twin Probe-3 spacecraft on Thursday .The Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle [PSLV-C59 in a picture -perfect launch begun its journey to space a day after the launch was postponed .ISRO’s PSLV -XL lifts off with Europe’s Probe-3mission to space .The launch vehicle is on its way to space to deploy Probe-3in an elliptical orbit around Earth .The mission will be completed in 1122 seconds .This moment is inspiring and wonderful to all lovers of space exploration .The new satellite has been launched at Sriharkota Andhra Pradesh ‘s Satish Dawan Space Centre .As per the ESA’s request ,the launch of PSLV -C59 /PROBA-3 had been rescheduled on 5th December 2024 and thus it has been launched on this date .ISRO PSLV-XL Probe-3 mission launched .Satellite injection complete.Proba-3 separates and deployed into elliptical orbit formation flying in space .ISRO mission director said that Proba-3 mission fully accomplished .ISRO PSLV-XL lifts off with Europe’s Proba-3mission to space .ISRO is strengthening global collaboration .On December 4,2024,ISRO &ESA signed a technical implementing Plan to provide ground tracking support for the Gaganyaan Mission .A major step for seamless orbital operations .The Proba-3 mission by the European space Agency -ESA and India’s Aditya L1 mission differ significantly in their objectives and operational designs.Proba-3 focuses on technology demonstration through two satellites ,the Occulter and the Coronagraph ,which work in precise formation to create artificial solar eclipses for extended observations of the sun’s corona .This mission emphasizes formation flying technology and aims to stimulate solar eclipses ,allowing for up to six hours of continuous observation. In contrast Aditya 1 is a single spacecraft positioned at the Sun-Earth Language Point 1-L1 ,approximately 1.5 million kilometers from Earth .It aims for comprehensive solar research ,including studying solar winds ,magnetic fields ,and coronal mass ejections ,thereby providing insights into space weather dynamics affecting Earth .The Proba-3 twin satellite will offer a novel view of the sun’s surrounding atmosphere ,or corona .A million times fainter-but larger in expanse than the sun itself-the enigmatic corona is the source of space weather and the solar wind .The team from the ESA had been in India to integrate the spacecraft with the PSLV -XL rocket .In brief we can say that the present PROBA-3 with PSLV-C59 is another feat in the space achievements of ISRO.
(The author is a columnist, social and KP activist)