Proba-3, start of an incredible mission with a Spanish seal: causing solar eclipses

A giant space antenna announces its arrival European Center for Space Astronomy (ESAC), located in the secluded area of ​​Villanueva de la Cañada (Madrid). Outside its doors, among oaks and poplars, a path winds between modern and functional buildings that house the science operations centers for all of the European Space Agency’s (ESA) planetary and astronomy missions, as well as its scientific archives. In one of these buildings, an incredible scientific mission is announced with a Spanish stamp: Proba-3the purpose of which is to create solar eclipses. Spain is the country leading Proba 3 through Sener, in close collaboration with a consortium of 40 companies from 16 countries. Among these companies, the key participation of Airbus Defense and Space in Spain stands out.

The mission will launch at the end of 2024 with India to achieve a historical milestone: demonstrating that high-precision formation flight between satellites in space this is possible, while allowing the creation of an artificial eclipse to study the solar corona. Specifically, it will run from Satish Dhawan Space Center India in Sriharikota.

Anik de Groofdirector of the Solar Orbiter mission at ESA, explains that the Sun is the only star we can observe so close. Solar corona This is the outermost layer of the solar atmosphere. Although the surface temperature 6000 degreesTemperatures in the corona reach millions of degrees. It is also structured magnetic field very powerful. Scientists believe that the corona is the source of most of the solar activity that can affect Earth. Coronal mass ejections These are emissions of solar plasma into interplanetary space. They can affect the Earth’s magnetosphere and cause geomagnetic storms that affect radio communications, navigation systems, satellites or electrical grids.

The scientific mission will try to answer the following questions:

• What are the heating mechanisms of the solar corona?

• How do coronal mass ejections and solar wind occur? How do they speed up?

• What are the physical properties of the corona in the first three solar radii above the surface?

• How do solar events affect the heliosphere and space weather?

Success will require “perfect synchronization” between the two satellites, according to those in charge of the mission. Coronagraph And Occultismwhich will fly in an elliptical orbit, moving at a distance of just over 60,000 km from Earth (about 10 times the distance from the surface to the core of the Earth).

Another technical challenge the mission poses is the autonomy of the satellites: each will operate independently, calculating its position and trajectory relative to its counterpart, without the support of a human operator; To do this, it will use advanced guidance, navigation and control systems (SNS).

He Coronagraph will house the mission’s coronagraph, an instrument that will point directly at the Sun. Second satellite Occultism, will eclipse the sunstanding between the star and the Coronagraph. To do this you will need a disk with a capacity of about 140 centimeters in diameter and various equipment (optical and laser) that will allow the position and relative relationship between two satellites to be calculated and positioned with extreme precision.

Synchronization between both satellites will create an artificial eclipse. Occulter and Coronagraph will fly at a distance of 150 meters from each other. This process will develop autonomously, generating 6 hour artificial eclipse on the second satellite every day, which will make it possible to study the solar corona. A coronagraph in space will be able to obtain images of the Sun that will not be affected by disturbances in the Earth’s atmosphere.

He group flight allows satellites to act as a single optical instrument. This is another goal of Proba-3: to demonstrate that future missions can be developed on a larger scale and at lower cost using several small modules which behave in flight like only a large satellite.

Presentation

The European Space Astronomy Center (ESAC) held a presentation of the mission in Spain, which was attended by Diana MorantMinister of Science, Innovation and Universities; Juan Carlos CortesDirector of PREPA; And Carol MundellDirector of Science at ESA and Director at ESAC; And Luis Manuel Partidathe mayor of Villanueva de la Cañada and other government officials.

The Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities (MICIU) provided the opportunity to finance the participation of Spanish industry in this project through the ESA General Technology Support Program (GSTP). This allowed the company Senerlead and develop a technology demonstration project in which other Spanish companies such as Airbus Defense and Space in Spainunder the leadership Francisco Javier Benitoproject manager Proba-3, GMV Space and Defense And Deimos.

Companies in Spain perform some of the most important mission functions and with great technological interest, such as leading overall designdevelop navigation algorithmsor design a full-fledged satellite.

Diego RodriguezDirector of Space and Science at Sener, emphasized that “Spain has played a fundamental role in the development, integration and testing of these systems. This mission was led by Sener, but we could not achieve this goal without the support of the participating industry and especially the central team made up of top-level Spanish companies.