European Satellites Set to Create Artificial Solar Eclipses for Scientific Research

Thursday 05 December 2024 - 14:02

In a groundbreaking space mission, a pair of European satellites were launched into orbit with the goal of creating artificial solar eclipses through advanced formation flying techniques. The mission, which launched from India, marks the first of its kind, aiming to provide scientists with an unprecedented opportunity to study the sun’s outer atmosphere, or corona, in greater detail than ever before.

Once operational next year, the two satellites will perform a series of artificial solar eclipses, each lasting up to six hours, far longer than the mere minutes of totality typically seen during a natural eclipse on Earth. These eclipses will allow researchers to focus on the sun’s corona and address crucial scientific questions.

The satellites are part of the European Space Agency’s (ESA) Proba-3 mission, designed as a technology demonstration. The spacecraft will autonomously fly in precise formation, separated by about 492 feet (150 meters). The primary satellite will cast a shadow over the other, mimicking the moon’s role during a total solar eclipse, while the second satellite, equipped with a telescope, will observe the corona.

To maintain such precision, the satellites will use a combination of GPS, star trackers, lasers, and radio links. The formation must be maintained to within a millimeter, or the thickness of a fingernail, ensuring the shadow is cast accurately. Each satellite is compact, measuring less than five feet (1.5 meters) in size.

The mission holds significant scientific value. The ability to block out the sun’s bright surface will enable scientists to study the corona, which is mysteriously hotter than the sun's surface. In addition, the mission will shed light on coronal mass ejections—massive bursts of plasma and magnetic fields that can disrupt Earth’s power grids and communication systems.

With an orbit that stretches from 370 miles (600 kilometers) to 37,000 miles (60,000 kilometers) above Earth, the satellites will take almost 20 hours to complete an orbit. During certain periods, the satellites will generate the artificial eclipse for up to six hours. During other phases of the orbit, the satellites will focus on testing their formation-flying capabilities.

The first results from the mission are expected in March, once both satellites complete their preliminary checks. The ESA plans to create artificial eclipses at least twice a week, providing scientists with reliable opportunities to study the sun’s corona—without the need to travel to far-off locations for brief natural eclipses.

This ambitious $210 million mission is expected to provide over 1,000 hours of "on-demand" totality during its two-year operation. After completing their scientific work, the satellites will gradually lower their orbits and eventually burn up in Earth’s atmosphere, likely within five years. Despite a brief delay caused by a technical issue with one satellite’s propulsion system, the mission is on track to revolutionize our understanding of solar phenomena.