ESA Reestablishes Contact with Proba-3 Coronagraph Spacecraft

The European Space Agency (ESA) announced on March 19 that it has reestablished contact with the Coronagraph spacecraft, a component of its Proba-3 mission.

The satellite had been silent since mid-February due to an anomaly.

Damien Galano, Proba-3 Mission Manager, confirmed the re-establishment of contact with the Coronagraph.

Mission Details: Generating Artificial Solar Eclipses

The Coronagraph and its partner satellite, the Occulter, were launched together from India in December 2024.

The mission's objective is to generate artificial solar eclipses. The Occulter blocks the sun's disk, enabling the Coronagraph to study the sun's outer atmosphere, known as the corona, which is typically obscured by the sun's brightness.

This operation requires the two satellites to maintain a precise formation, cruising approximately 500 feet (150 meters) apart with millimeter accuracy.

The Anomaly and Loss of Attitude

The anomaly in mid-February led to a progressive loss of attitude, or spacecraft orientation. This prevented the Coronagraph from entering its expected safe mode, as stated by ESA officials on March 6.

Current Status: Stable in Safe Mode

Following the re-establishment of contact, ESA's ground station in Villafranca, Spain, received crucial data from the Coronagraph, including information on its voltage and temperature.

The satellite is currently stable and operating in a protective safe mode. The mission team is now conducting comprehensive health checks to determine if the satellite sustained any damage during the period of silence.