European twin-satellite mission aims to generate total solar eclipses on demand

European scientists are set to launch Proba-3, a groundbreaking satellite mission by the European Space Agency (ESA), designed to create total solar eclipses on demand, The Guardian reported yesterday.

The mission involves two satellites flying in close formation, linked by lasers and light sensors, with one satellite blocking the sun’s view from the other. This innovative setup allows for eclipses lasting up to six hours, revolutionizing solar research.

The mission aims to deepen understanding of the sun’s inner corona, which is paradoxically hotter than its surface. By studying this phenomenon, scientists hope to unravel the mysteries of solar disruptions affecting technology on Earth, such as GPS and power transmission.

Proba-3, a decade in the making, also serves as a pathfinder for future space missions, potentially transforming how astronomers study various cosmic phenomena, including black holes and gravitational waves. This pioneering technology could redefine robotic spaceflight and enhance our understanding of space weather dynamics.