Two spaceships align in a precise formation to mimic a solar eclipse, seize an awe-inspiring photograph, and trial-run innovative technology
In the vast expanse of space, two satellites named Proba-3 are orbiting Earth, providing scientists with a unique opportunity to study the Sun's corona and space weather. Launched in 2024, these satellites have been designed to fly in a precise formation, simulating an artificial solar eclipse [1][2][3].
The mission's primary objective is to overcome the challenges of studying the corona under normal circumstances, due to its intense brightness. To achieve this, one satellite acts as an occulter, positioning itself closer to the Sun to block its light, while the second satellite, about 150 meters behind, carries scientific instruments that observe the Sun's corona from the shadowed region created by the first [1][2][3].
This formation flying requires exceptional precision. The satellites maintain alignment within about one millimeter at a distance of roughly 492 feet (150 meters) while orbiting Earth at altitudes from around 600 km up to 60,000 km [3]. By blocking the Sun’s direct light as the Moon does during a natural eclipse, Proba-3 allows continuous and clear observation of the Sun’s outer atmosphere, which is crucial for understanding solar activity and high-energy particles ejected by the Sun [1][2][3].
The data collected by Proba-3 is essential for predicting space weather events. These events can cause the aurora on Earth and potentially harm Earth-orbiting satellites. By better understanding space weather, scientists hope to improve their predictions, thus minimising potential damage [4][5].
The Proba-3 mission is also a technology testbed for future missions requiring multiple satellites to operate as coordinated systems. The hope is that the technology developed for this mission could potentially benefit future technologies, such as those designed to study the Sun and space weather [1][3].
In June 2025, Proba-3 took a picture of the Sun's corona, marking a significant step forward in our understanding of space weather and its impact on Earth and satellites [6]. The Proba-3 mission continues to provide valuable insights, contributing to the study of space weather and its potential effects on our planet.
References:
[1] European Space Agency. (2024). Proba-3 Mission. https://www.esa.int/Proba-3
[2] NASA. (2024). Proba-3 Mission Overview. https://nasa.gov/Proba-3
[3] Science Magazine. (2025). Proba-3 Captures Image of Sun's Corona. https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2025/06/proba-3-captures-image-sun-s-corona
[4] National Geographic. (2022). What is Space Weather and Why Should We Care? https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/space/space-weather/
[5] BBC News. (2023). Proba-3 Mission Aims to Improve Space Weather Predictions. https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-52345770
[6] Proba-3 Mission Team. (2025). Proba-3 Captures First Image of Sun's Corona. https://proba3mission.com/news/proba-3-captures-first-image-of-sun-s-corona
The Proba-3 mission, launched in 2024, operates with two satellites in space, serving a pivotal role in the space economy by studying the Sun's corona and space weather, through extraordinary formation flying that requires precision down to one millimeter. With the successful capture of the Sun's corona in a June 2025 image, Proba-3 is advancing our understanding of space weather, contributing to the science of space-and-astronomy and promoting technology development for future missions.
