The first artificial solar eclipse in orbit has been achieved by the European Space Agency’ s Proba-3 mission, without intervention from Earth. Its two satellites, Coronagraph and Occulter, flew only 150 meters apart and perfectly synchronized, precisely blocking the solar disk to allow direct observation of the solar corona.
This event makes it possible to directly study the solar coronathe Sun’s outermost envelope, whose temperature exceeds one million degrees Celsius. Normally visible only during natural eclipses, the corona is now revealed in sharp focus thanks to the ASPIICSdeveloped by the Liège Space Center.
Formation flight to achieve artificial solar eclipse
Proba-3’s success is based on its ability to maintain autonomous alignment with millimeter precision. This formation flying technology, led by Spain’s Sener together with partners such as GMV, Airbus and Spacebel, has made it possible to replicate total solar eclipses in a programmed manner, without depending on natural events.
With a shadow of only 8 centimeters cast on the optical instrument, the system has captured coronal images free of stray light. The DARA radiometer and 3DEES spectrometer complement the data, measuring solar irradiance and electron activity in the Earth’s radiation belts.
See how the process of the artificial solar eclipse of the Proba-3 mission went. Source: European Space Agency, ESA
Scientific and operational implications of the eclipse
The recurrent creation of orbital eclipses in each 19.6-hour orbit provides a crucial advantage over natural eclipses, which are brief and sporadic. The mission has already delivered key observations on the behavior of the solar wind and the dynamics of coronal mass ejections, phenomena that can affect communication and power systems on Earth.
In addition, the data collected are being used by computational models such as KU Leuven’s COCONUT, improving space weather prediction at the European Space Agency’s Virtual Modeling Center.
A further step towards European space autonomy
Damien Galano, mission director, noted that the autonomous flight system has exceeded initial expectations, and is expected to operate shortly without the need for ground-based monitoring. This breakthrough, in addition to its scientific value, positions Europe as a leader in precision space technology.
The Proba-3 missionmission, launched from India in December 2024, opens new windows for solar study. solar study and drives the development of future cooperative missions based on satellites in formation.
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Source and photo: ESA
