India To Launch ESA’s Proba-3 Mission For Sun Observation: Jitendra Singh

India will launch the European Space Agency’s Proba-3 mission early next month from the Sriharikota spaceport, said Science and Technology Minister Jitendra Singh on Tuesday.

According to Singh, the two satellites for the Proba-3 mission, aimed at studying the Sun, arrived at Sriharikota on Tuesday morning to be integrated with ISRO’s Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV).

"India will launch the European Space Agency's Proba-3 mission with a PSLV rocket from Sriharikota in the first week of December," Singh stated during the Indian Space Conclave organised by the Indian Space Association.

The mission is expected to launch on 4 December.

The two Proba-3 spacecraft will be launched together on a PSLV-XL launcher and placed in a highly elliptical orbit, reaching up to 60,000 km from Earth before descending as close as 600 km.

This high orbit is essential because the spacecraft will conduct active formation flying for around six hours at maximum altitude, where Earth’s gravitational influence is weaker, reducing the amount of propellant needed for position adjustments.

Proba-3’s twin satellites will allow continuous observations of the Sun’s faint corona, or outer atmosphere, which typically can only be seen briefly during solar eclipses from Earth.

To achieve this, the shadow cast between the two spacecraft must remain precisely aligned, requiring them to autonomously maintain formation with millimeter-level accuracy—the thickness of a fingernail.

This launch will mark the first time since the original Proba-1 Earth-observing mission in 2001 that an ESA mission has been launched from India.

Dr S Somanath, Secretary of the Department of Space and Chairman of ISRO, stated, “India's Vision 2047 reflects a bold commitment to advancing our space program and growing our space economy. With robust government leadership, we have transitioned from initial plans to active projects, envisioning a future where space fuels economic growth, strengthens national security, and drives technological progress. Currently, about 450 companies contribute to our satellite-building and launch capabilities.”

Hervé Delphin, the European Union’s Ambassador to India, commented, “India and the EU are natural partners in space, both working toward strategic autonomy in navigation, Earth observation, and communication technologies.” Our shared vision for the peaceful use of space opens up tremendous potential for joint efforts in areas like climate monitoring, cybersecurity and exploration, Delphin added.