The European Space Agency launched the “Trial-3” program in which it will try to cause an artificial solar eclipse for the first time in history.
Source: GoffPhotos.com / Goff Photos / Profimedia
The key to this mission is the launch of two satellites that will study the Sun’s corona, that is, the atmosphere surrounding the star closest to us, which will allow us to better understand solar weather. The biggest challenge of this project is flying the satellites in formation with great precision, and the experience that ESA will gain within this mission will be valuable for future projects as well, he writes. Euronews.rs.
“Let’s try”
The spacecraft “Koronagrah” and “Occulter” will be placed in a formation whose precision is measured in millimeters, at a mutual distance of 144 meters and more.
Occulter will fly closer to the Sun and block the Sun’s disk, casting a shadow for another satellite, the same way the Moon casts a shadow on Earth’s surface during a true eclipse.
This will allow “Coronagrah” to photograph the inner part of the corona region, which is impossible under normal circumstances due to the blinding light of the Sun.
“Trial” is an acronym for “Project of Onboard Autonomy” and also means “let’s try” in Latin.
Solar Weather Prediction
When the satellites have finished taking pictures, the team on Earth will send a command to separate the satellites by a sufficient distance, so that they do not collide.
Studying the Sun’s corona will help scientists predict solar weather, such as geomagnetic solar storms, which can affect orbiting satellites as well as communications and power grids on Earth.
– This will help us to better understand many things, such as the origin of solar winds. There are still some unanswered questions, especially those concerning slow winds – says Andrei Zhukov, a researcher at the Royal Observatory in Belgium.
– Slow winds are those that vary and are not homogeneous and uniform. It is not yet certain where they come from – adds Zhukov.
The two satellites are currently being prepared for final assembly in Belgium, from where they will be moved to India and launched using the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle in September this year.
It is worth noting that the eclipse caused by the satellites will not be visible on Earth.
See what the last natural solar eclipse looked like!
The delicate dance of the satellites: The first artificial solar eclipse planned
Source: USA TODAY Network / ddp USA / ProfimediaBr. image: 13 1 / 13 Source: USA TODAY Network / ddp USA / ProfimediaBr. image: 13 2 / 13 Source: USA TODAY Network / ddp USA / ProfimediaBr. image: 13 3 / 13 AD Source: USA TODAY Network / ddp USA / ProfimediaBr. image: 13 4 / 13 Source: Stephen Lovekin / Shutterstock Editorial / ProfimediaBr. image: 13 5 / 13 Source: JOSH EDELSON / AFP / ProfimediaBr. image: 13 6 / 13 AD Source: JOSH EDELSON / AFP / ProfimediaBr. image: 13 7 / 13 Source: TIMOTHY A. CLARY / AFP / ProfimediaBr. image: 13 8 / 13 Source: JOSH EDELSON / AFP / ProfimediaBr. picture: 13 9 / 13 AD Source: Jorge Estrellado / imago stock&people / ProfimediaBr. image: 13 10 / 13 Source: Erik Pendzich / Alamy / Alamy / ProfimediaBr. image: 13 11 / 13 Source: SOPA Images / Sipa Press / ProfimediaBr. image: 13 12 / 13 AD Source: GoffPhotos.com / Goff Photos / ProfimediaBr. picture: 13 13 / 13
(World)