The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has scheduled the launch of the PSLV-C59 rocket carrying the Proba-3 spacecraft for December 4, 2024, at 4:08 PM IST, as per reports. The mission, a dedicated commercial venture of NewSpace India Limited (NSIL), will take off from the First Launch Pad at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota. According to reports, this will mark the 61st mission of the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) and the 21st use of its XL configuration. Mission Overview As per sources, Proba-3, a project developed by the European Space Agency (ESA), is an In-Orbit Demonstration (IOD) mission aimed at showcasing precision formation flying. The spacecraft consists of two components: the Coronagraph Spacecraft (CSC) and the Occulter Spacecraft (OSC). These satellites, launched in a stacked arrangement, will operate in tandem, maintaining a precise distance of 150 meters. The innovative configuration will enable the creation of artificial solar eclipses, allowing extended observation of the Sun’s corona. Scientific Objectives Reports indicate that the mission’s primary objective is to explore the Sun’s corona, the outermost layer …