Background: Initial launch was scheduled for December 4, 2024, but an anomaly in the propulsion system delayed it by a day.
Relevance : GS 3 (Space)
- Successfully launched PROBA-3, a European Space Agency mission, aboard PSLV-C59.
- The mission highlights ISRO’s precision in satellite placement.
- Mission Details:
- PSLV-C59 rocket (44.5 meters) to carry the European Space Agency’s (ESA) PROBA-3 satellites.
- Mission aims to place 550-kg PROBA-3 satellites into a highly elliptical orbit.
- 61st flight of PSLV, 26th using the PSLV-XL configuration.
- Mission Objective:
- Study the Sun’s corona using two satellites in formation that block the solar disk, enabling detailed observation.
- Significance:
- Collaborative mission between NewSpace India Limited (NSIL) and the ESA, supported by ISRO’s expertise.
