Proba-3 is ESA’s – and the world’s – first precision formation flying mission. A pair of satellites will fly together maintaining a fixed configuration as a ‘large rigid structure’ in space to prove formation flying technologies and rendezvous experiments.
The mission will demonstrate formation flying in the context of a large-scale science experiment. The two satellites will together form a 144-m long solar coronagraph to study the Sun’s faint corona closer to the solar rim than has ever before been achieved. Beside its scientific interest, the experiment will be a perfect instrument to measure the achievement of the precise positioning of the two spacecraft. It will be enabled using a wide variety of new technologies.
Discussion: 2 comments
Is a precise launch date already available? I worked on the flight computers and I’m excited about the mission.
Our last reported launch date is 4 December, although the shipping has hit delays. The team is checking if these will affect launch campaign scheduling. Thanks for your contribution! https://www.esa.int/Enabling_Support/Space_Engineering_Technology/Proba_Missions/Europe_says_farewell_to_eclipse-making_Proba-3