ESA's Proba-3 mission launched today, sending a pair of spacecraft into orbit. They will recreate solar eclipse conditions in space.
successfully launched into space. The Proba-3 mission will do something never seen before: it will precisely and repeatedly create solar eclipses in orbit using two satellites. Lining up these satellites is a remarkable technological feat and relies heavily on breakthrough imaging technology.
As for how the Proba-3’s spacecraft will work, it is an astounding operation. The two satellites, the Coronagraph and Occulter, weigh 314 and 231 kilograms, respectively . They are reasonably big and heavy. It is one thing to get satellites like this into orbit; it is another entirely to have them work together and with the required precision.A module of Onsemi’s SPS array. There are eight sensors arranged across this module, two pairs of two .
Through Onsemi’s sensors, the two spacecraft can be lined up within an accuracy threshold of around 1.5 millimeters across every dimension while staying 150 meters apart in co-orbit. The two spacecraft can create a stable eclipse for hours with constant micro-adjustments. When they are not making an eclipse, the spacecraft float freely, out of synchronization.
As this illustration shows, the SPS will use shadows to align the two spacecraft to create a solar eclipse in space. ‘Joint European and Indian team seen stood in front of the 2 Proba-3 spacecraft stacked atop their upper stage, ready to be mated with the rest of the PSLV-XL launcher at the SHAR base of the Indian Space Research Organisation, ISRO, for launch on 4 December,’ ESA explains.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Upcoming Proba-3 Mission Will Create Artificial Solar Eclipses to Study the SunThe Sun-observing mission is set for launch on Wednesday at 5:38 a.m. ET.
Read more »
Mission: Impossible Just Took A Huge Towards Bringing Back This Forgotten CharacterEthan Hunt in Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning and Brassel in Mission: Impossible 3
Read more »
SpaceX launching 1st mission for Indian Space Research Organisation todayMichael Wall is a Senior Space Writer with Space.com and joined the team in 2010. He primarily covers exoplanets, spaceflight and military space, but has been known to dabble in the space art beat. His book about the search for alien life, 'Out There,' was published on Nov. 13, 2018.
Read more »
Back from space, NASA crew discusses mission, but declines to address post-flight medical issueMedical issues aside, the astronauts described a water leak in June that triggered a blizzard in the International Space Station's airlock.
Read more »
China launching Tianzhou 8 cargo mission to Tiangong space station on Nov. 15Andrew is a freelance space journalist with a focus on reporting on China's rapidly growing space sector. He began writing for Space.com in 2019 and writes for SpaceNews, IEEE Spectrum, National Geographic, Sky & Telescope, New Scientist and others.
Read more »
Powerful new Vulcan Centaur rocket gearing up for 1st Space Force missionJulian Dossett is a freelance writer living in Santa Fe, New Mexico. He primarily covers the rocket industry and space exploration and, in addition to science writing, contributes travel stories to New Mexico Magazine. In 2022 and 2024, his travel writing earned IRMA Awards. Previously, he worked as a staff writer at CNET.
Read more »