PSLV-C59 places ESA's Proba-3 satellites in orbit
On 5 December 2024, from Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh, PSLV-C59 carried the European Space Agency's Proba-3 spacecraft into a highly elliptical orbit in a dedicated commercial mission of NSIL.
Summary
On 5 December 2024, from the First Launch Pad of the Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC-SHAR), Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh, PSLV-C59 carried the European Space Agency's Proba-3 spacecraft into a highly elliptical orbit at 16:04 hrs. It was a dedicated commercial mission of NewSpace India Limited (NSIL). Proba-3 is an ESA in-orbit demonstration mission to demonstrate precise formation flying, with two spacecraft, the Coronagraph Spacecraft and the Occulter Spacecraft. The Hindu reported it was the 61st flight of PSLV and the 26th in the PSLV-XL configuration.
Key facts
- Date / time
- 5 Dec 2024, 16:04 hrs
- Launch pad
- First Launch Pad, SDSC-SHAR, Sriharikota
- Customer
- European Space Agency (ESA)
- Mission type
- Dedicated commercial mission of NSIL
- Goal
- Demonstrate precise formation flying
- Spacecraft
- Coronagraph and Occulter spacecraft
- PSLV flight
- 61st; 26th in PSLV-XL configuration
Practice MCQs 5 questions
PSLV-C59, launched on 5 December 2024, carried the Proba-3 spacecraft of which space agency?
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Correct answer: C — European Space Agency (ESA)
ISRO: PSLV-C59 carried Proba-3, an in-orbit demonstration mission of the European Space Agency, into a highly elliptical orbit on 5 December 2024.
According to ISRO, what is the mission goal of Proba-3, launched on PSLV-C59?
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Correct answer: A — To demonstrate precise formation flying
ISRO: Proba-3 is an In-Orbit Demonstration mission of the European Space Agency; the mission goal is to demonstrate precise formation flying.
The PSLV-C59/Proba-3 launch of 5 December 2024 was a dedicated commercial mission of:
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Correct answer: D — NewSpace India Limited (NSIL)
ISRO: PSLV-C59 carried Proba-3 into a highly elliptical orbit as a dedicated commercial mission of NewSpace India Limited (NSIL) on 5 December 2024.
Consider the following statements about the PSLV-C59/Proba-3 mission: 1. It was launched from the Second Launch Pad at SDSC-SHAR, Sriharikota. 2. Proba-3 consists of a Coronagraph Spacecraft and an Occulter Spacecraft. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: B — 2 only
ISRO: Proba-3 consists of 2 spacecraft, the Coronagraph Spacecraft (CSC) and the Occulter Spacecraft (OSC), so statement 2 is correct. The launch was from the First Launch Pad (FLP), SDSC-SHAR, so statement 1 is wrong. Answer: 2 only.
According to The Hindu, the PSLV-C59/Proba-3 mission was which flight of the PSLV?
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Correct answer: C — 61st
The Hindu (5 Dec 2024): the PSLV-C59/PROBA-3 Mission is the 61st flight of PSLV and the 26th using the PSLV-XL configuration.