Space travel: ESA separates the two Proba-3 satellites
ESA has decoupled the two satellites of the Proba-3 mission. They are due to start their scientific work in a few weeks.
Artist's impression of the two Proba satellites in space
(Image: ESA-P. Carril)
The Proba mission of the European Space Agency (ESA) has taken an important step: The two small satellites that flew into space together have been separated. The formation flight of the two can now begin.
A four-stage Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) XL rocket from the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) launched the satellites into space at the beginning of December. It was launched from the Satish Dhawan Space Center in Sriharikota in southeast India.
Videos by heise
The two satellites were coupled with a clamp strap, which is normally used to connect a spacecraft to a rocket. It was the first time that this form of coupling had been used for two spacecraft, the ESA announced. The separation of the two went smoothly.
ESA wants to align the satellites
The two satellites initially drifted about 50 kilometers apart, explained mission manager Damien Galano. Next, ESA will determine the relative position of the two satellites in order to bring them into a stable configuration with the help of their thrusters.
The ESA Proba-3 mission includes two satellites: the Coronagraph Spacecraft (CSC) and the Occulter Spacecraft (OSC), which orbit the Earth in an elliptical path. The closest point to the earth (perigee) is around 600 kilometers away from the earth, the furthest (apogee) around 60,500 kilometers.
Proba-3 will study the solar corona
The two satellites are used to observe the sun, or more precisely its corona. Due to the bright light of the sun, this is only visible during a solar eclipse. However, solar eclipses rarely occur on Earth and only last for a short time.
Empfohlener redaktioneller Inhalt
Mit Ihrer Zustimmung wird hier ein externes YouTube-Video (Google Ireland Limited) geladen.
Ich bin damit einverstanden, dass mir externe Inhalte angezeigt werden. Damit können personenbezogene Daten an Drittplattformen (Google Ireland Limited) übermittelt werden. Mehr dazu in unserer Datenschutzerklärung.
The two Proba satellites therefore create a kind of artificial solar eclipse: the CSC is located in the shadow of the OSC and can therefore observe the sun for up to six hours. To do this, the OSC and CSC must be aligned with millimeter precision at a distance of 150 meters from each other.
The first solar observation is planned for March. The mission is scheduled to last two years. The two satellites are expected to burn up on re-entry into the Earth's atmosphere in around five years.
(wpl)
