European Space Agency prepares to launch Proba-3 mission for artificial solar eclipses

The European Space Agency's Proba-3 mission is set to launch on Wednesday at 5:38 a.m. ET. This mission will use two satellites to create artificial solar eclipses, allowing scientists to study the Sun's corona more frequently than during natural eclipses. The satellites will separate shortly after launch and maintain a precise distance of 492 feet (150 meters) apart. One satellite will block the Sun's light, enabling the other to observe the corona, which is usually obscured by the Sun's brightness. Proba-3 will orbit Earth at a distance of about 37,282 miles (60,000 kilometers) and will conduct observations during a six-hour window of each orbit. The mission aims to enhance understanding of the Sun's outer atmosphere and its effects on space weather.