Tonight marks a pivotal milestone for the Proba-3 mission: the long-awaited spacecraft separation!

Since the launch, the Proba-3 team has been working tirelessly to complete the stack commissioning tasks, ensuring that both the Coronagraph Spacecraft (CSC) and the Occulter Spacecraft (OSC) are fully prepared for this critical operation.

The two spacecraft, launched together in a stacked configuration, have been in perfect harmony during their journey so far. Now, it’s time for them to part ways and begin their respective roles in this exciting mission.

The separation event will take place tonight around midnight, with commanding operations carried out from the Control Centre at ESEC Redu in Belgium. Here, the team is carefully overseeing every detail to ensure that the spacecraft separate safely and transition smoothly into safe mode.

This is no small task! The separation itself, the synchronization, and the immediate post-separation operations are all crucial steps. The entire team is ready to respond to any situation that may arise during this complex procedure.

As we prepare for this event, the atmosphere here is a mix of focus and anticipation. This separation is a crucial step for Proba-3, bringing us one step closer to the mission’s ambitious goals.

Stay tuned for updates as we embark on this next chapter of the Proba-3 journey!