Indian Space Research OrganizationPSLV XLSatish Dhawan Space Centre First Launch Pad, Satish Dhawan Space Centre, India

Proba-3

Name: Proba-3 launch
Start: 2024-12-05T10:34:00.000Z
Location: Satish Dhawan Space Centre First Launch Pad, Satish Dhawan Space Centre, India

Launched

December 5, 2024 · 10:34 UTC

Launch Successful

Image: ISRO

Summary

Proba-3 launched on an Indian Space Research Organization PSLV XL from Satish Dhawan Space Centre First Launch Pad, Satish Dhawan Space Centre, India on December 5, 2024 at 10:34 UTC. It was Indian Space Research Organization's 92nd launch, 4th this year and humanity's 6,826th orbital launch attempt. It was the 26th PSLV XL flight and the 1st this year. The payload was bound for Elliptical Orbit (Elliptical). PROBA-3 CSC, one of 3 catalogued objects, reached a 580 × 60,570 km orbit inclined 59.2°. 3 objects from this launch are catalogued, 2 of them payloads.

Watch: PSLV-C59/PROBA-3 MissionISRO Official
Vehicle: PSLV XL · Indian Space Research Organization
Booster: No booster details on record.
Mission: Technology · Elliptical Orbit (Elliptical)
Milestone: 26th PSLV XL flight · 1st this yearIndian Space Research Organization's 92nd launch4th this yearhumanity's 6,826th orbital launch attempt237th orbital launch attempt this year

Webcast

Replay

Watch on YouTube

Flight preview

Orbit: as tracked

59.2°Inclination

580 × 60570 kmPerigee × apogeefrom mean elements

1177.9 minPeriodfrom mean elements

146.6°Ascending node

679 d agoElement epoch2024-12-05 14:56 UTC · stale

PROBA-3 CSC · NORAD 62256 · 2024-233 · Space-Track · tracking 1 of 3 objects

Show the numbers

Object: TBA - TO BE ASSIGNED
Object ID: 2024-233A
Epoch: 2024-12-05 14:56:49 UTC
Mean motion: 1.22249642 rev/day
Eccentricity: 0.8118486
Inclination: 59.185°
Ascending node: 146.5864°
Arg. of perigee: 187.9932°
Mean anomaly: 76.7736°
Element set: 999
Rev at epoch: 0
B*: 0

Perigee, apogee and period are Kepler figures from the catalogued mean elements, not a propagated state. Published orbit: Elliptical. Ascent drawn from padside's representative profile.

Flight timeline

14 steps, T−3 s to T+18 min 42 s

T−3SIgnition
T−0Booster Ignition
T+1SLiftoff
T+25SBooster Ignition
T+1M10.1SBooster Separation
T+1M32SBooster Separation
T+1M49.7SStage 2 Separation
T+1M49.9SSES
T+4M22.38SStage 2 Separation
T+4M23.58SStage 3 Ignition
T+8M9.22SStage 3 Separation
T+8M19.62SKick Stage Ignition
T+16M55.48SKick Stage Cut-off
T+18M42.48SPayload Separation

Catalogued objects

3 catalogued: 2 payloads, 1 rocket stage; 3 still in orbit

PROBA-3 CSC · NORAD 62256 · in orbit
PROBA-3 OSC · NORAD 62258 · in orbit

PSLV-C59 PS4 · in orbit

Data from J. McDowell, planet4589.org

About this launch

Proba-3 (Project for On-Board Autonomy 3) is the first close formation flying mission for the European Space Agency (ESA). It consists of two independent, three-axis stabilised spacecraft flying 150 meters from one another with the ability to accurately control the attitude and separation of the two craft. Such formation flying will be maintained for 6 hours, creating ″artificial solar eclipse″ for the satellite below. The spacecraft pair will fly a highly elliptical orbit divided between periods of accurate formation flying around apogee, when payload operations will be possible, and periods of free flight.

Official page: www.isro.gov.in Official page: About Proba-3