GUWAHATI: The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) successfully launched the European Space Agency’s (ESA) Proba-3 mission on Thursday, December 5. The PSLV-XL rocket lifted off at 4:04 PM from Sriharikota’s Satish Dhawan Space Centre, placing the twin Proba-3 satellites into a precise elliptical orbit.
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Initially scheduled for Wednesday, the launch was delayed due to a technical issue in the Coronagraph spacecraft's propulsion system. ESA’s team in Belgium resolved the glitch, clearing the way for Thursday’s liftoff.
Proba-3 features two satellites – the Coronagraph and the Occulter – which will fly in precise formation, 150 metres apart. This unique arrangement creates an artificial eclipse, allowing the Coronagraph to observe the Sun's corona in unprecedented detail. Scientists expect up to six hours of continuous observation daily, equivalent to 50 natural eclipses annually.
The mission complements India's Aditya-L1 mission, launched earlier this year, and is set to advance space weather prediction by providing critical data on solar phenomena affecting Earth's satellites and communication systems.
