ISRO's PSLV-C59 Successfully Launches ESA's Proba-3 Sun-Observing Mission
| Summary/Static | Details |
|---|---|
| Why in the news? | ISRO's PSLV Mission Successfully Deploys European Satellites |
| Mission Name | Proba-3 |
| Launch Vehicle | PSLV-C59 (ISRO's Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle) |
| Launch Date | December 5, 2024, 4:04 PM IST |
| Mission Objective | To study the Sun's outer atmosphere (corona) using formation flying satellites |
| Spacecraft | - Coronagraph (310 kg) - Occulter (240 kg) |
| Orbital Details | - Highly elliptical orbit: Perigee: 600 km, Apogee: 60,000 km - Inclination: 59 degrees |
| Formation Flying | Satellites will fly 150 meters apart in tandem, blocking the solar disk to study the Sun's corona |
| Scientific Importance | Study of the Sun's corona, space weather, and solar activity (CMEs and solar flares) |
| Duration of Mission | Satellites will complete one 19-hour orbit around the Earth. The observation of the Sun's corona will last up to 6 hours per session. |
| ISRO's Role | Launch services; scientific data collection will be handled by ESA |
| ESA's Contribution | Scientific observations and experiments on solar activities and space weather risks |