PSLV-XL | Proba-3

Launch Provider & Rocket

• Provider: Indian Space Research Organization (Government)
• Rocket: PSLV XL — PSLV family

Mission

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.

• Type: Technology
• Orbit: Elliptical Orbit (Elliptical)

Launch Site

• Pad: Satish Dhawan Space Centre First Launch Pad
• Location: Satish Dhawan Space Centre, India
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