One of many precision formation flying Proba-3 satellites as seen from the opposite throughout floor testing. The pair will fly in orbit relative to 1 one other all the way down to millimeter scale precision, however with the intention to do that should hold steady observe of one another in each daylight and darkness.
To realize this, Proba-3 combines vision-based detection, as examined right here, with radio frequency hyperlinks, satellite navigation and laser ranging.
The Visible-Primarily based Sensor will likely be used when the satellites are nearer than 250 m to one another. LEDs aboard Proba-3’s Coronagraph satellite—seen within the animation beneath—will likely be detected by a set of cameras on the opposite Occulter satellite, showing as pattens of sunshine at midnight.

Lastly, for optimum precision, the Occulter will shine a laser at a retro-reflector mounted on the Coronagraph satellite.
Proba-3 will display formation flying within the context of a large-scale science experiment. The 2 satellites will collectively type a 144-m lengthy solar coronagraph to check the sun’s faint corona nearer to the solar rim than has ever earlier than been achieved. The goal is to function as if the pair are a part of a single large spacecraft in orbit.
Supplied by
European Space Agency
Quotation:
Proba-3 satellite: Seeing at midnight (2023, August 25)
retrieved 25 August 2023
from https://phys.org/information/2023-08-proba-satellite-dark.html
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