Two European Space Agency (ESA) satellites launched aboard an Indian rocket on un’s corona and demonstrate new spaceflight technologies. Called the Proba-3 on flying and create artificial solar eclipses to capture images of the Sun's o brightness.
The satellites launched aboard India's Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) at
elliptical orbit with a low point of 356 miles (573 kilometers) and a high poi xt year, the Coronagraph satellite, carrying instruments to image the Sun, and
sensors and thrusters, will separate to begin their experiments. The Occulter e, casting a shadow on the Coronagraph satellite. [
https://www.amsat.org/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Proba-3-Coronagra.. oads/2024/12/Proba-3-Coronagraph-Occulter-Redwire-scaled.jpg
Proba-3 completed its final operations tests at Redwire’s Belgium facilities edwireSpace]
This arrangement allows scientists to create artificial eclipses, blocking sunl clipses offer only brief observation windows, and traditional coronagraphs on s n. Proba-3 addresses these limitations by keeping the two satellites 150 meters ter atmosphere.
Proba-3 uses advanced navigation technology, including inter-satellite radio li ystem maintains millimeter-scale precision between the satellites, allowing the x hours. The mission aims to conduct at least 1,000 hours of such observations [
https://www.amsat.org/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Proba-3-Formation.. oads/2024/12/Proba-3-Formation-Dual-Satellites-Flying.jpg
Artist rendering of the Proba-3 Coronagraph and Occulter satellites positioned t/ / P. Carril]
The mission’s scientific goal is to observe a part of the corona that existin cal for understanding solar phenomena such as coronal mass ejections and the ac
weather and Earth. The mission will also capture high-frequency images to stud
and drive the solar wind.
Proba-3 also serves as a test of formation-flying technology. ESA officials hop ture missions, such as Mars Sample Return or space debris removal. "Proba-3 is ations," said Josef Aschbacher, ESA's director general. "This mission shows how
goals that were not possible before."
[ANS thanks Stephen Clark, Ars Technica
https://arstechnica.com/ for the above i
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