ISRO To Launch PROBA-3 Satellites From Sriharikota On Dec 4

Sriharikota: The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has announced that the lift-off for the anticipated launch of PSLV-C59/PROBA-3 mission satellites will take place on December 4 (Wednesday), at 4:06 p.m. from Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh.

The mission will entail the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV)-C59 carrying around satellites weighing nearly 550 kg in a highly elliptical orbit.

The PROBA-3 mission is an "In-Orbit Demonstration (IOD) mission" by the European Space Agency (ESA).

Posting about the anticipated launch on X, the space organisation said, "The PSLVC59/PROBA-3 Mission, the 61st flight of PSLV and the 26th using PSLV-XL configuration, is set to carry ESA's PROBA-3 satellites (~550kg) into a highly elliptical orbit." "The mission goal is to demonstrate precise formation flying," said ISRO in a statement regarding the launch. The mission consists of two spacecraft, namely the Coronagraph Spacecraft (CSC) and the Occulter Spacecraft (OSC) which will be launched together in a "stacked configuration" (one on top of another).

PSLV is a launch vehicle that helps carry satellites other various other payloads to space, or according to ISRO's requirements.