European Space Agency Re-establishes Contact with Lost Proba-3 Spacecraft

Kathmandu. The European Space Agency announced on Thursday that it has re-established communication with a spacecraft that is part of its Proba-3 mission, after losing contact with it a month ago.

Launched in 2024 for a two-year mission, Proba-3 uses two spacecraft flying in precise formation to simulate a solar eclipse from over 60,000 kilometers above Earth.

Scientists are using this mission to get a rare glimpse of the Sun's outer atmosphere, known as the corona.

One satellite carries a 1.4-meter (five-foot) shield, which acts like the Moon to block the Sun's light, while the other observes the corona from the shadow.

However, on February 14, the second spacecraft, which carries the coronagraph instrument, experienced a problem and was lost.

Following the issue, the spacecraft lost its orientation, causing its solar panels to turn away from the Sun, and the batteries could not charge.

The spacecraft then entered 'survival mode' and was silently drifting in space.

On Thursday night, "something miraculous happened because we reconnected with the spacecraft," said ESA Director Josef Aschbacher on Thursday.

He stated at a press conference following the ESA Council meeting, "The other spacecraft was 'observing and following' its lost twin.

"The lost spacecraft was 'tumbling uncontrollably' when they found some sunlight actually hitting the solar panel," Aschbacher described, citing the ESA team in Spain.

They used this small amount of power to seize the opportunity to re-establish contact, and it is now reconnected to the mission.

The spacecraft's solar panels are now charging its batteries from the sunlight.

ESA experts will switch the instruments back on and conduct tests to determine how much damage occurred.

"Finding the coronagraph back online is amazing news and a huge relief!" said Proba-3 Mission Manager Damien Galano in a statement.

The Sun's corona, invisible to the naked eye and telescopes, which is millions of kilometers thick, and about which little is still known, is usually hidden by the bright light emanating from the Sun.

According to ESA, a total solar eclipse on Earth lasts only a few minutes and occurs only about 60 times a century. Proba-3 has succeeded in observing it for 10 to 12 hours a week over two years.