NEXT SPACEFLIGHT

Status

Success

PROBA 3

Launch Time
Thu Dec 05, 2024 10:34 UTC

Rocket

PSLV-XL
Image Credit: ISRO
ISRO
Status: Active
Price: $31.0 million
Liftoff Thrust: 7,661 kN
Payload to LEO: 3,250 kg
Payload to GTO: 1,410 kg
Stages: 4
Strap-ons: 6
Rocket Height: 44.0 m
Fairing Diameter: 3.2 m
Fairing Height: 8.3 m

Mission Details

PROBA 3

PROBA-3 composes of two independent, three-axis stabilized spacecraft flying 150 meters from one another with the ability to accurately control the attitude and separation of the two craft. It 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. The length of the formation control period will be a trade-off involving the increasing amount of fuel needed to maintain the orbits in formation when away from apogee.

Payloads: 2
Total Mass: 550.0 kg
Elliptical

Location

First Launch Pad, Satish Dhawan Space Centre, India

Stats

2024

236th orbital launch attempt

Indian Space Research Organisation

95th mission
4th mission of 2024
80th successful mission
13th consecutive successful mission

PSLV

61st mission
2nd mission of 2024
58th successful mission
20th consecutive successful mission