PROBA-3 formation-flying solar observatory spacecraft
Proba-3 is ESA's paired-spacecraft formation-flying observatory design. The Occulter carries the solar-blocking disk and relative-navigation optical heads; the Coronagraph carries ASPIICS, LED targets, a laser retroreflector, and shadow-position sensors. Wide- and narrow-angle cameras acquire the partner spacecraft, laser metrology refines their separation, and shadow sensing closes the final alignment loop. The separate platforms act as a long external coronagraph when about 150 metres apart, while radio links, satellite-navigation receivers, and star trackers support navigation and pointing.
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Identity
- Aliases
- Proba-3PROBA-3 missionProba-3 formation-flying mission
- Family Name
- PROBA-3
- Full Name
- PROBA-3 formation-flying solar observatory spacecraft
- Roles
- observatorytechnology_demonstratorresearch
- Status
- active
- Type
- spacecraft
Details
- Description
- Proba-3 is ESA's paired-spacecraft formation-flying observatory design. The Occulter carries the solar-blocking disk and relative-navigation optical heads; the Coronagraph carries ASPIICS, LED targets, a laser retroreflector, and shadow-position sensors. Wide- and narrow-angle cameras acquire the partner spacecraft, laser metrology refines their separation, and shadow sensing closes the final alignment loop. The separate platforms act as a long external coronagraph when about 150 metres apart, while radio links, satellite-navigation receivers, and star trackers support navigation and pointing.
- First Flight Year
- 2,024
- Operator
Links
Assets & Meta
- Creation Time
- August 13, 2026 at 03:57:18 UTC
- Updated Time
- October 29, 2026 at 15:34:37 UTC