ISRO Delays Proba-3 Launch To Thursday For Unidentified Anomaly

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has rescheduled the launch of the European Space Agency’s (ESA) Proba-3 Sun observation mission to Thursday, following an anomaly that surfaced during the countdown.

ISRO announced the delay on the social media platform X, stating, “Due to an anomaly detected in PROBA-3 spacecraft PSLV-C59/PROBA-3 launch rescheduled to tomorrow.”

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Initially slated for Wednesday, the mission will now lift off on Thursday at 4:12 PM from the First Launch Pad (FLP) at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC-SHAR), Sriharikota. The organization assured that preparations for the launch continue smoothly despite the rescheduling.

Proba-3: Strengthening Space Collaboration

The ESA’s Proba-3 mission is the first ESA mission to launch from India since Proba-1 in 2001, highlighting the growing collaboration between India and Europe in space exploration. Proba-3 satellites, transported from Liege, Belgium, to Chennai airport before being trucked to Sriharikota, are part of a dedicated commercial mission by NewSpace India Limited (NSIL).

“This mission, powered by NSIL with ISRO’s engineering excellence, reflects the strength of international collaboration. A proud milestone in India’s space journey and a shining example of global partnerships,” ISRO noted.

Objectives and Technical Milestones

Proba-3 is an in-orbit demonstration (IOD) mission designed to study the Sun’s faint corona near the solar rim. The mission will demonstrate precise formation flying through two spacecraft: the Coronagraph Spacecraft (CSC) and the Occulter Spacecraft (OSC).

Launched aboard ISRO’s PSLV-XL rocket in a stacked configuration, the spacecraft will create a 144-metre-long solar coronagraph, a unique instrument enabling scientists to study the Sun’s corona—normally obscured by the brightness of the solar disk.

This mission marks the 61st flight of ISRO’s Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) and the 26th flight in the PSLV-XL configuration.

A Landmark Moment

As a testament to India’s increasing contributions to global space exploration, the Proba-3 mission stands out as a symbol of the nation’s capability and commitment to fostering international partnerships.

By pushing the boundaries of space science and engineering, this launch represents yet another chapter in ISRO’s illustrious history and its collaboration with global space agencies.