Scientists have successfully launched two European satellites into orbit to create artificial solar eclipses, providing a unique opportunity for prolonged study of the sun’s corona and understanding its mysteries.
The Proba-3 mission, worth $210 million, aims to generate at least 1,000 hours of “on demand” totality during its two-year operation. The satellites will fly 492 feet apart and line up with the sun, allowing one spacecraft to cast a shadow on the other, mimicking a total solar eclipse.
The resulting eclipses will last for six hours each, providing scientists with an unprecedented chance to study the corona in detail. This is particularly important as coronal mass ejections can disrupt power and communication systems, as well as produce stunning auroras.
The satellites’ precise formation flying requires extreme accuracy, within just one millimeter, using GPS, star trackers, lasers, and radio links. The first eclipse results are expected to be available in March next year, with scientists planning to create eclipses at least twice a week.
With this technology, scientists can now observe the corona for extended periods, unlike natural eclipses which only last a few minutes. The mission’s success marks a significant step forward in high-precision formation flying and will aid our understanding of the sun’s behavior.
Source: https://apnews.com/article/artificial-solar-eclipses-esa-india-a3471636570ea80c13997afd80893f18