ISRO launches Proba-3 spacecraft to study the Sun's outer atmosphere
ISRO successfully launched the Proba-3 spacecraft from Sriharikota on December 5, 2024. The launch vehicle PSLV-C59 carried two satellites from the European Space Agency, after a delay due to a propulsion system issue. Proba-3 will observe the Sun's outer atmosphere, known as the Corona, using two satellites that will fly 150 meters apart. The Occulter will block the Sun's center, allowing the Coronagraph to study the outer rim. The spacecraft is now in a highly elliptical orbit, with a perigee of 600 km and an apogee of 60,000 km. This mission marks a significant collaboration between ISRO and the European Space Agency.