ISRO has successfully launched the European Space Agency’s (ESA) Proba-3, composed of two spacecraft—Coronagraph (310 kg) and Occulter (240 kg)—that will act as one.

But before it was launched into space by ISRO’s PSLV-C59, Proba-3 had to first arrive in India from Belgium, where space infrastructure firm Redwire developed one of its payloads and created its onboard computer. Redwire was also responsible for spacecraft integration and testing.

The long trip from Redwire’s Belgium facility to the launch pad at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota (SDSC-SHAR) began way back in October.

Here’s a short overview of the timeline, courtesy Redwire.

October 31: Proba-3 spacecraft are packed and prepared for transportation from Redwire’s facility in Belgium for India, destined for SDSC-SHAR.

November 4: Spacecraft in their protective containers are loaded onto a plane and depart for India.

The Proba-3 spacecraft are loaded on to the airplane for their flight to India (Pic: Redwire)

November 5: Proba-3 and the Redwire team arrive in India and begin their road trip to SHAR.

Proba-3 arrives in India (Pic: Redwire)

Lars Weinhold, AIV Systems Engineer at Redwire, supervising the Proba-3 containers on their way to the launch site. (Pic: Redwire)

November 7: Arrival at SHAR. Spacecraft are unpacked, and functional tests begin.

November 8: ESA confirms successful functional tests of both spacecraft, verifying health after shipment.

November 12: Completion of standalone testing in the SP-1B facility. Spacecraft are moved to the SP2B fueling hall for further checks.

Members of the Redwire Proba-3 team after standalone testing in SP-1B facility was completed. (Pic: ESA)

Following standalone testing, the Redwire team packed up the Proba-3 spacecraft to be moved to the fueling hall (Pic: ESA)

November 14–20: Fit check with the launcher payload adapter is completed, including installation and testing of clampbands and umbilical cables. Leak testing and fueling are successfully performed on the spacecraft. Satellites are activated on Earth for the last time and receive their final onboard software.

Proba-3’s coronagraph spacecraft undergoing a fit check with the launcher adapter. (Pic: ESA)

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