The Proba-3 Mission / A New Dawn for Solar Science

The Proba-3 Mission / A New Dawn for Solar Science

The European Space Agency (ESA) has embarked on a groundbreaking mission to unlock the secrets of the sun's enigmatic outer atmosphere. The Proba-3 mission, launched on December 5, 2024, involves a pair of satellites designed to create artificial solar eclipses, providing scientists with unprecedented opportunities to study the sun's corona. A Precise Celestial Dance The two Proba-3 satellites, each weighing approximately 1,210 pounds, will orbit Earth in a precise formation, separated by nearly 500 feet. By aligning themselves with the sun, they will cast a shadow onto each other, blocking the sun's intense light and allowing for extended observations of its corona. This innovative approach will enable scientists to study the sun's corona for up to six hours at a time, significantly surpassing the limited duration of natural solar eclipses. Unveiling the Mysteries of the Sun's Corona The sun's corona, its outermost layer, is a region of immense interest to scienti…