Formation-flying satellites
The Proba-3 satellites will adopt a fixed formation in space, 144m apart, with one acting as a shield so that the other can observe the sun’s faint corona
The Occular satellite’s 140cm-diameter disk blocks out the sun for the coronagraph instrument. It uses cold gas thrusters for fine control of the formation
The Coronagraph satellite‘s instrument points directly toward the sun. It’s equipped with guidance, navigation, control systems and thrusters
Source: ESA
Proba-3: formation-flying satellites
The Proba-3 satellites will adopt a fixed formation in space, 144m apart, with one acting as a shield so that the other can observe the sun’s faint corona
The Occular satellite’s 140cm-diameter disk blocks out the sun for the coronagraph instrument. It uses cold gas thrusters for fine control of the formation
The Coronagraph satellite‘s instrument points directly toward the sun. It’s equipped with guidance, navigation, control systems and thrusters
Source: ESA
Proba-3: ESA’s formation-flying satellites
The Proba-3 satellites will adopt a fixed formation in space, 144m apart, with one acting as a shield so that the other can observe the sun’s faint corona
144m
The Occular satellite’s 140cm-diameter disk blocks out the sun for the coronagraph instrument. It uses cold gas thrusters for fine control of the formation
The Coronagraph satellite‘s instrument points directly toward the sun. It’s equipped with guidance, navigation, control systems and thrusters
Source: ESA
Proba-3: ESA’s formation-flying satellites
The Proba-3 satellites will adopt a fixed formation in space, 144m apart, with one acting as a shield so that the other can observe the sun’s faint corona
144m
The Occular satellite’s 140cm-diameter disk blocks out the sun for the coronagraph instrument. It uses cold gas thrusters for fine control of the formation
The Coronagraph satellite‘s instrument points directly toward the sun. It’s equipped with guidance, navigation, control systems and thrusters
Source: ESA