PSLV-C59/Proba-3: Two Spacecraft Dancing in Space!

Have you ever imagined how it would look when two spacecraft dance in perfect harmony 60,000 kilometres above the Earth's surface? ISRO’s PSLV-C59/Proba-3 mission is making it a reality!

Recently, ISRO launched Proba-3 through its PSLV-C59 vehicle from First Launch Pad (FLP), Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC-SHAR), Sriharikota. It’s a dedicated commercial mission of NewSpace India Limited (NSIL). The primary objective of this mission is to demonstrate precise formation flying in space.

But wait... PSLV-C59, Proba-3 and formation flying sound complex? So let me simplify it for you.

Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) is a medium-lift launch vehicle developed by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). It's renowned for its reliability and versatility. In the past, it had successfully launched various satellites like Aditya-L1 into orbit. In the designation "PSLV-C59," the 'C' indicates a specific configuration of the PSLV, and the '59' shows it’s the 59th flight using this setup.

Proba-3 is an In-Orbit Demonstration (IOD) mission of the European Space Agency(ESA). Its primary objective is to demonstrate precise formation flying in space, which means two spacecraft, the Coronagraph Spacecraft (CSC) and the Occulter Spacecraft (OSC) will fly in space in a specific formation to block out the Sun’s bright light and observe its faint corona. Studying the Sun's corona will provide valuable insights into space weather, solar flares, and other phenomena that can directly impact Earth.

Below I've attached an image showing the Flight sequence of PSLV-C59.

(Image credit: www.isro.com)

This mission marks a significant milestone. It is the first time ESA has launched a satellite from Indian soil since the Proba-1 mission in 2001. It also showcases the capabilities of ISRO's PSLV in launching international payloads.

Overall, the PSLV-C59/Proba-3 mission is a testament to the growing collaboration between ISRO and ESA, and it promises to contribute to our understanding of the Sun and its effects on our planet.

For more info about the mission, check out the resource-sharing post at the Discussion Forum.