July 7, 2025 • 12 mins
🌞 Discover how the European Space Agency (ESA) created the world’s first artificial total solar eclipse using two satellites flying in perfect formation.Today we break down the groundbreaking Proba-3 mission, the technology behind its millimeter-precise satellite formation flying, and how it’s revolutionizing our understanding of the Sun’s corona, solar wind, and coronal mass ejections (CMEs).📌 Key Topics Covered:
🔬 Lead Organization: European Space Agency (ESA)
🔧 Tech Partners: Sener Aerospace, GMV, Airbus Defence, Redwire, Spacebel👇 Related Resources:
đź”— ESA Mission Page: https://www.esa.int/Enabling_Support/Operations/Proba-3
đź”— Learn About Solar Eclipses: https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/eclipses/overview/
🔗 What is Space Weather: https://www.esa.int/Space_Safety/Space_Weather🛰️ Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and hit the bell for more in-depth space science videos!#Proba3 #ESA #SolarEclipse #SpaceWeather #SolarScience #ArtificialEclipse #SatelliteTechnology
- What is Proba-3?
- How artificial eclipses work
- The ASPIICS instrument and solar corona imaging
- Space weather forecasting and CMEs
- Real-world impacts on Earth: GPS, power grids & communications
- ESA’s vision for autonomous formation flying
🔬 Lead Organization: European Space Agency (ESA)
🔧 Tech Partners: Sener Aerospace, GMV, Airbus Defence, Redwire, Spacebel👇 Related Resources:
đź”— ESA Mission Page: https://www.esa.int/Enabling_Support/Operations/Proba-3
đź”— Learn About Solar Eclipses: https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/eclipses/overview/
🔗 What is Space Weather: https://www.esa.int/Space_Safety/Space_Weather🛰️ Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and hit the bell for more in-depth space science videos!#Proba3 #ESA #SolarEclipse #SpaceWeather #SolarScience #ArtificialEclipse #SatelliteTechnology
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Welcome to the deep dive. Today, we're looking up, way
up at the Sun. You know, that massive ball of
fire that usually just blinds us if we try to
look too closely, Right.
Speaker 2 (00:09):
It's brilliant hide so much exactly.
Speaker 1 (00:12):
But what if I told you scientists are now basically
making solar eclipses happen not here on Earth but out.
Speaker 2 (00:17):
In space, creating them on demand essentially.
Speaker 1 (00:20):
Yeah, crafting these artificial eclipses to finally get a good
look at the Sun's biggest mysteries. It's pretty wild stuff.
The precision involved is just well, it's kind of mind blowing.
And the data coming back it's already changing how we
see our star and its effect on us. Now, before
we really dive into the nuts and bolts, just a
(00:41):
quick heads up, we actually put together a video over
on our channel that shows some of the concepts we're
talking about today visually.
Speaker 2 (00:47):
Oh that's useful. Seeing the formation flying really helps grasp
it totally.
Speaker 1 (00:51):
So you know, if you want another perspective after this chat,
definitely check that out.
Speaker 3 (00:54):
Good idea, and it's worth stressing why this is also important.
It's not just cool tech, right, We're trying to answer
fundamental questions about the Sun's atmosphere.
Speaker 1 (01:02):
It's Corona absolutely, because understanding that directly relates to how
the Sun effects Earth, our technology, everything. This mission is
potentially crucial for protecting our modern way of life.
Speaker 3 (01:14):
Okay, so let's unpact that we're talking about the European
Space Agency's Probe three mission. And like you said, it's
not just one spacecraft.
Speaker 1 (01:21):
No, it's two working together, two.
Speaker 3 (01:22):
Spacecraft achieving something totally new, the first artificial total solar
eclipse in orbit. They're not waiting for the Moon, they're
making their.
Speaker 1 (01:32):
Own eclipse percisely.
Speaker 3 (01:33):
So you've got the Coronagraph spacecraft and the Occulture spacecraft
and they fly in this perfect formation about one hundred
and fifty meters.
Speaker 1 (01:41):
Apart, which sounds far, but in space terms, keeping that
distance stable is the challenge, right, And.
Speaker 2 (01:47):
Here's the kicker. They maintain that distance, that relative position
down to a single millimeter for hours without someone on
Earth constantly steering them.
Speaker 1 (01:57):
Yeah, no joystick involved, it's autonomous.
Speaker 3 (02:00):
It just sounds how do they even manage that kind
of precision millimeter accuracy at one hundred and fifty meters.
It really does push the boundaries. It's a combination of
really innovative technologies. Think, highly accurate laser systems constantly measuring
the distance and alignment between the two, like super precise
laser rulers kind of yeah, laser metrology. This feeds data
(02:22):
into incredibly sensitive micro thrusters. These aren't big engines. They
fire thousands of times a second, just tiny nudges.
Speaker 1 (02:29):
Wow, thousands of times.
Speaker 3 (02:30):
Yeah, constantly correcting, adjusting, keeping everything perfectly lined up. It's
less about staying still and more about this continuous, superfine tuned.
Speaker 2 (02:40):
Dance in space.
Speaker 3 (02:42):
What's hands I like that, and the mechanics are quite
neat The culture spacecraft has this one point four meter disc.
When it's in exactly the right spot, it blocks the
sun's bright face perfectly for the coronagraph, so it casts
the shadow exactly. It casts a tiny eight centimeter shadow
right onto the coronagraph's main instrument, which is called ACEPI.
It's like holding your sum out to block the sun,
(03:02):
but you know, way more precise and engineered an.
Speaker 1 (03:04):
Eight centimeters shadow from one hundred and fifty meters away.
Speaker 2 (03:07):
Incredible, it is, and it's worth mentioning. A lot of
this tech.
Speaker 3 (03:10):
The lasers, the control systems, It didn't just appear. It
came out of ESA's long term technology programs like the
General Support Technology program. Shows the value of that foundational
R and D.
Speaker 1 (03:22):
Definitely pays off. So ASPICS gets this perfect shadowed view.
And you said, it's looking at the Sun's outer atmosphere,
the corona, which brings us to that huge puzzle.
Speaker 2 (03:32):
Right temperature paradox?
Speaker 1 (03:33):
Yeah, why is the corona the atmosphere millions of degrees
hotter than the Sun's surface below it? It feels backwards like
the air around the fire being hotter than the fire
itself exactly.
Speaker 3 (03:43):
It defies our basic intuition about heat transfer. It's been
a major question in solar physics for well decades.
Speaker 1 (03:50):
So how does aspaics help crack this?
Speaker 3 (03:53):
Its big advantage is getting close. It can study the
corona much nearer to the Sun's actual surface or limb
than most other instruments. And this artificial eclipse set up
dramatically cuts down on stray.
Speaker 1 (04:04):
Light screen light, you mean just scattered sunlight?
Speaker 3 (04:07):
Precisely, Normally, the Sun is so overwhelmingly bright that it
scattered light floods detectors trying to see the much much
fainter corona right next to it. It's like trying to
see a firefly next to searchlight. Oh okay, aspics working
with the external a culture disc has internal shielding and
design features baffles and another internal culture specifically to minimize
(04:28):
this stray light. It means the detector gets a much cleaner.
Speaker 1 (04:31):
Signal, so it can see fainter details.
Speaker 3 (04:33):
Exactly, fainter structures closer to the surface where the heating
mechanisms are thought to actually originate, things like magnetic waves
or tiny energy bursts nanoflares. Maybe getting that clean view
right at the edge is key.
Speaker 1 (04:47):
Okay, So it's tackling the big temperature mystery, but observing
the corona is also vital for understanding things that affect
us more directly, isn't it like the solar winds.
Speaker 3 (04:56):
Absolutely, the solar wind this constant stream of particles flow
going out from the Sun originates in the corona, and
then they're really big.
Speaker 1 (05:03):
Events CMEs Coronal mass ejections right CMEs.
Speaker 3 (05:08):
These are enormous explosions of plasma and magnetic fields flung
out from the corona. They can happen almost daily when
the Sun is particularly active.
Speaker 1 (05:17):
And these are the things that cause auroras. But also problems.
Speaker 3 (05:21):
Exactly that they create beautiful northern and southern lights, but
they can also wreak havoc on our.
Speaker 1 (05:27):
Technology, like we saw fairly recently, right May twenty twenty four.
Speaker 3 (05:31):
Yes, that was a significant event. A series of strong
CMEs hit Earth, causing noticeable disruptions. We saw impacts on
high frequency radio communications GPS systems weren't quite as accurate
for a time, and there was definite stress on some
power grids.
Speaker 1 (05:46):
So understanding these things isn't just academic. It's about protecting
our infrastructure.
Speaker 3 (05:51):
Absolutely, Predicting when a CME is coming, how strong it
might be. That's vital for space weather forecasting and giving
operators time to safeguard satellites or power and.
Speaker 1 (06:00):
Probo three isn't just aspics, right, I think you mentioned
there are other instruments on board too, That's right.
Speaker 3 (06:05):
While aspics and the corona are the main focus, it
carries other important instruments.
Speaker 2 (06:10):
There's draw and three.
Speaker 1 (06:12):
D's okay, what do they do?
Speaker 3 (06:14):
So, Dara, that's the digital absolute radiometer measures the Sun's
total energy output very precisely, what we call total solar irradiance.
Speaker 1 (06:23):
Why track that does it change much?
Speaker 3 (06:25):
It does change slightly, and even small variations over the
long term are really important inputs for climate models understanding
Earth's energy budget. I see and three d's three d's
looks closer to home. It's a three D energetic electrons
bok prometer. It measures high energy electrons trapped in Earth's
own radiation belts, their direction, their energy.
Speaker 1 (06:45):
And why measure those electrons.
Speaker 3 (06:47):
Because those energetic particles are a major hazard for satellites
orbiting within those belts. They can damage electronics, degrade solar panels.
Understanding how they behave helps us design more robust spacecraft
and maybe even predict periods of higher risk.
Speaker 1 (07:01):
Gotcha, So it's providing a more complete picture of the
Sun Earth connection.
Speaker 2 (07:05):
Exactly complimentary data.
Speaker 1 (07:07):
Okay, let's circle back to the main event, the artificial eclipses.
How does this capability really stack up against natural eclipses,
the ones we see from Earth. What's the real game
changer here?
Speaker 3 (07:16):
Oh, the difference is enormous for scientists. Yeah, think about
natural eclipses. They're rare, right, maybe one or two total
eclipses somewhere on Earth.
Speaker 1 (07:26):
Each year, and you have to be in exactly the right.
Speaker 3 (07:28):
Spot exactly, and even then totality, the part where the
corona is visible only lasts for a few minutes.
Speaker 1 (07:34):
Max writes over so quickly about the.
Speaker 3 (07:36):
Three It can create its eclipse once every orbit. That's
about every nineteen point six hours every day basically pretty much.
And it's not just for minutes. It can hold that
artificial eclipse stable for up to six hours per orbit.
Speaker 1 (07:50):
Six hours compared to a few minutes.
Speaker 3 (07:53):
Yeah, imagine the difference trying to study something complex and dynamic.
Would you prefer stattered snapshots for a few minutes or
continuous hires video for six hours every day?
Speaker 1 (08:03):
No contest, really, And the.
Speaker 2 (08:04):
Quality is there too.
Speaker 3 (08:05):
The images are comparable to what you get during a
natural eclipse, critically with much less stray light, so you
get a clearer view, especially of that really important inner
corona region. That sustained long duration, high quality observation time
is the revolutionary part.
Speaker 1 (08:20):
It's like having a permanent high definition eclipse observatory in space.
Speaker 3 (08:26):
That's a good way to put it. Two spacecraft acting
as one giant coronagraph.
Speaker 1 (08:30):
So with all this amazing data flowing back, what's the
next step. It's not just about collecting images, it's about
improving our understanding our models, right, particularly space weather models.
Speaker 3 (08:40):
Absolutely, that's a huge part of the why current coronagraphs,
even space based ones, just don't give us enough detail,
especially close to the Sun, to really feed and validate
the sophisticated computer models we're developing.
Speaker 1 (08:54):
Your data starved in a way, you could say.
Speaker 3 (08:55):
That, especially for that critical region near the solar surface.
Rob A three observing right down to the edge like
during a natural eclipse, but for hours on end. That's
the data injection these models need.
Speaker 1 (09:08):
How does that help refine them?
Speaker 3 (09:09):
Well, modelers can take the PROBA three observations, actual images
and data of the inner corona and compare them directly
to their simulations. They can see where their model matches
reality and where it doesn't, and then tweak the model exactly,
adjust the parameters the physics inputs, things like magnetic field strength,
plasma density, until the simulation looks like the real thing
(09:29):
PROBA three is seeing. Take Ku Luvin's Coconut model, for instance.
It's part of Essay's Virtual Space Weather Modeling Center. Okay,
it simulates the corona with PROBA three data. They can
fine tune Coconut to be much more realistic, especially in
how it models energy transport and the very beginnings of
CMEs near the Sun's surface. That was almost impossible before.
Speaker 1 (09:52):
So kinneking the dots for everyone listening. Better models mean
better predictions, that's the goal.
Speaker 3 (09:58):
These refined solar models, combine with models of how CMEs
travel through space and interact with Earth's magnetic field, give
us a much clearer, more comprehensive.
Speaker 1 (10:07):
Picture, which helps us prepare yes.
Speaker 3 (10:10):
Better warnings for potentially disruptive space weather events. It helps
airlines rerect planes, satellite operators take precautions, power grid managers
stabilize their systems. It benefits citizens and industry directly.
Speaker 1 (10:22):
That makes sense. And this whole complex mission, it wasn't
built by just one country, was it.
Speaker 2 (10:26):
Oh no, not at all.
Speaker 3 (10:27):
It's a major international effort led by ESA, the European
Space Agency, But the prime contractor managing the build was
Center in Spain. And then you had contributions from I
think over twenty nine companies across fourteen different countries.
Speaker 1 (10:41):
Wow.
Speaker 3 (10:42):
Yeah, key players like GMV and Airbus in Spain, red
Wire and space Bell and Belgium and many others. And
it launched relatively recently December twenty twenty four from India
on an Indian PSLV rocket. Truly a global collaboration.
Speaker 1 (10:57):
It really is an incredible story. Prova three is such
a testament to well human ingenuity, Isn't it just drive
to understand the universe, even the parts that are hard
to look at. It really is pushing technology to its
limits to answer fundamental questions that blend of precision engineering
and deep scientific curiosity peeking behind the Sun's.
Speaker 3 (11:14):
Glare, and it highlights how vital these kinds of missions
are not just for pure science, which is fascinating in itself,
but for tangible benefits back here on Earth.
Speaker 1 (11:21):
Yeah, protecting our technology, understanding our star's influence exactly.
Speaker 3 (11:25):
The better we understand the Sun, the better prepared we are.
It just reinforces that sense that there's always more to learn,
more to discover, even about something we see every day.
Speaker 1 (11:34):
So true. Okay, here's a final thought then, for you listening.
If we can achieve this kind of precision formation flying
to create an artificial eclipse, what else could we do
with it?
Speaker 2 (11:46):
Hmmm? Interesting question.
Speaker 1 (11:47):
Imagine applying that kind of coordinated multi spacecraft approach to
other hard to observe phenomena. Maybe studying exoplanet atmospheres by
having one spacecraft block the starlight or mapping gravitation fields
with incredible accuracy. What new cosmic windows could this kind
of tech open up.
Speaker 2 (12:05):
The possibilities are vast.
Speaker 1 (12:07):
Definitely something to think about and remember. If you want
to see some of this in action, check out that
video on our channel. For now, thanks for joining us
on this deep dive
Welcome to the deep dive. Today, we're looking up, way
up at the Sun. You know, that massive ball of
fire that usually just blinds us if we try to
look too closely, Right.
Speaker 2 (00:09):
It's brilliant hide so much exactly.
Speaker 1 (00:12):
But what if I told you scientists are now basically
making solar eclipses happen not here on Earth but out.
Speaker 2 (00:17):
In space, creating them on demand essentially.
Speaker 1 (00:20):
Yeah, crafting these artificial eclipses to finally get a good
look at the Sun's biggest mysteries. It's pretty wild stuff.
The precision involved is just well, it's kind of mind blowing.
And the data coming back it's already changing how we
see our star and its effect on us. Now, before
we really dive into the nuts and bolts, just a
(00:41):
quick heads up, we actually put together a video over
on our channel that shows some of the concepts we're
talking about today visually.
Speaker 2 (00:47):
Oh that's useful. Seeing the formation flying really helps grasp
it totally.
Speaker 1 (00:51):
So you know, if you want another perspective after this chat,
definitely check that out.
Speaker 3 (00:54):
Good idea, and it's worth stressing why this is also important.
It's not just cool tech, right, We're trying to answer
fundamental questions about the Sun's atmosphere.
Speaker 1 (01:02):
It's Corona absolutely, because understanding that directly relates to how
the Sun effects Earth, our technology, everything. This mission is
potentially crucial for protecting our modern way of life.
Speaker 3 (01:14):
Okay, so let's unpact that we're talking about the European
Space Agency's Probe three mission. And like you said, it's
not just one spacecraft.
Speaker 1 (01:21):
No, it's two working together, two.
Speaker 3 (01:22):
Spacecraft achieving something totally new, the first artificial total solar
eclipse in orbit. They're not waiting for the Moon, they're
making their.
Speaker 1 (01:32):
Own eclipse percisely.
Speaker 3 (01:33):
So you've got the Coronagraph spacecraft and the Occulture spacecraft
and they fly in this perfect formation about one hundred
and fifty meters.
Speaker 1 (01:41):
Apart, which sounds far, but in space terms, keeping that
distance stable is the challenge, right, And.
Speaker 2 (01:47):
Here's the kicker. They maintain that distance, that relative position
down to a single millimeter for hours without someone on
Earth constantly steering them.
Speaker 1 (01:57):
Yeah, no joystick involved, it's autonomous.
Speaker 3 (02:00):
It just sounds how do they even manage that kind
of precision millimeter accuracy at one hundred and fifty meters.
It really does push the boundaries. It's a combination of
really innovative technologies. Think, highly accurate laser systems constantly measuring
the distance and alignment between the two, like super precise
laser rulers kind of yeah, laser metrology. This feeds data
(02:22):
into incredibly sensitive micro thrusters. These aren't big engines. They
fire thousands of times a second, just tiny nudges.
Speaker 1 (02:29):
Wow, thousands of times.
Speaker 3 (02:30):
Yeah, constantly correcting, adjusting, keeping everything perfectly lined up. It's
less about staying still and more about this continuous, superfine tuned.
Speaker 2 (02:40):
Dance in space.
Speaker 3 (02:42):
What's hands I like that, and the mechanics are quite
neat The culture spacecraft has this one point four meter disc.
When it's in exactly the right spot, it blocks the
sun's bright face perfectly for the coronagraph, so it casts
the shadow exactly. It casts a tiny eight centimeter shadow
right onto the coronagraph's main instrument, which is called ACEPI.
It's like holding your sum out to block the sun,
(03:02):
but you know, way more precise and engineered an.
Speaker 1 (03:04):
Eight centimeters shadow from one hundred and fifty meters away.
Speaker 2 (03:07):
Incredible, it is, and it's worth mentioning. A lot of
this tech.
Speaker 3 (03:10):
The lasers, the control systems, It didn't just appear. It
came out of ESA's long term technology programs like the
General Support Technology program. Shows the value of that foundational
R and D.
Speaker 1 (03:22):
Definitely pays off. So ASPICS gets this perfect shadowed view.
And you said, it's looking at the Sun's outer atmosphere,
the corona, which brings us to that huge puzzle.
Speaker 2 (03:32):
Right temperature paradox?
Speaker 1 (03:33):
Yeah, why is the corona the atmosphere millions of degrees
hotter than the Sun's surface below it? It feels backwards like
the air around the fire being hotter than the fire
itself exactly.
Speaker 3 (03:43):
It defies our basic intuition about heat transfer. It's been
a major question in solar physics for well decades.
Speaker 1 (03:50):
So how does aspaics help crack this?
Speaker 3 (03:53):
Its big advantage is getting close. It can study the
corona much nearer to the Sun's actual surface or limb
than most other instruments. And this artificial eclipse set up
dramatically cuts down on stray.
Speaker 1 (04:04):
Light screen light, you mean just scattered sunlight?
Speaker 3 (04:07):
Precisely, Normally, the Sun is so overwhelmingly bright that it
scattered light floods detectors trying to see the much much
fainter corona right next to it. It's like trying to
see a firefly next to searchlight. Oh okay, aspics working
with the external a culture disc has internal shielding and
design features baffles and another internal culture specifically to minimize
(04:28):
this stray light. It means the detector gets a much cleaner.
Speaker 1 (04:31):
Signal, so it can see fainter details.
Speaker 3 (04:33):
Exactly, fainter structures closer to the surface where the heating
mechanisms are thought to actually originate, things like magnetic waves
or tiny energy bursts nanoflares. Maybe getting that clean view
right at the edge is key.
Speaker 1 (04:47):
Okay, So it's tackling the big temperature mystery, but observing
the corona is also vital for understanding things that affect
us more directly, isn't it like the solar winds.
Speaker 3 (04:56):
Absolutely, the solar wind this constant stream of particles flow
going out from the Sun originates in the corona, and
then they're really big.
Speaker 1 (05:03):
Events CMEs Coronal mass ejections right CMEs.
Speaker 3 (05:08):
These are enormous explosions of plasma and magnetic fields flung
out from the corona. They can happen almost daily when
the Sun is particularly active.
Speaker 1 (05:17):
And these are the things that cause auroras. But also problems.
Speaker 3 (05:21):
Exactly that they create beautiful northern and southern lights, but
they can also wreak havoc on our.
Speaker 1 (05:27):
Technology, like we saw fairly recently, right May twenty twenty four.
Speaker 3 (05:31):
Yes, that was a significant event. A series of strong
CMEs hit Earth, causing noticeable disruptions. We saw impacts on
high frequency radio communications GPS systems weren't quite as accurate
for a time, and there was definite stress on some
power grids.
Speaker 1 (05:46):
So understanding these things isn't just academic. It's about protecting
our infrastructure.
Speaker 3 (05:51):
Absolutely, Predicting when a CME is coming, how strong it
might be. That's vital for space weather forecasting and giving
operators time to safeguard satellites or power and.
Speaker 1 (06:00):
Probo three isn't just aspics, right, I think you mentioned
there are other instruments on board too, That's right.
Speaker 3 (06:05):
While aspics and the corona are the main focus, it
carries other important instruments.
Speaker 2 (06:10):
There's draw and three.
Speaker 1 (06:12):
D's okay, what do they do?
Speaker 3 (06:14):
So, Dara, that's the digital absolute radiometer measures the Sun's
total energy output very precisely, what we call total solar irradiance.
Speaker 1 (06:23):
Why track that does it change much?
Speaker 3 (06:25):
It does change slightly, and even small variations over the
long term are really important inputs for climate models understanding
Earth's energy budget. I see and three d's three d's
looks closer to home. It's a three D energetic electrons
bok prometer. It measures high energy electrons trapped in Earth's
own radiation belts, their direction, their energy.
Speaker 1 (06:45):
And why measure those electrons.
Speaker 3 (06:47):
Because those energetic particles are a major hazard for satellites
orbiting within those belts. They can damage electronics, degrade solar panels.
Understanding how they behave helps us design more robust spacecraft
and maybe even predict periods of higher risk.
Speaker 1 (07:01):
Gotcha, So it's providing a more complete picture of the
Sun Earth connection.
Speaker 2 (07:05):
Exactly complimentary data.
Speaker 1 (07:07):
Okay, let's circle back to the main event, the artificial eclipses.
How does this capability really stack up against natural eclipses,
the ones we see from Earth. What's the real game
changer here?
Speaker 3 (07:16):
Oh, the difference is enormous for scientists. Yeah, think about
natural eclipses. They're rare, right, maybe one or two total
eclipses somewhere on Earth.
Speaker 1 (07:26):
Each year, and you have to be in exactly the right.
Speaker 3 (07:28):
Spot exactly, and even then totality, the part where the
corona is visible only lasts for a few minutes.
Speaker 1 (07:34):
Max writes over so quickly about the.
Speaker 3 (07:36):
Three It can create its eclipse once every orbit. That's
about every nineteen point six hours every day basically pretty much.
And it's not just for minutes. It can hold that
artificial eclipse stable for up to six hours per orbit.
Speaker 1 (07:50):
Six hours compared to a few minutes.
Speaker 3 (07:53):
Yeah, imagine the difference trying to study something complex and dynamic.
Would you prefer stattered snapshots for a few minutes or
continuous hires video for six hours every day?
Speaker 1 (08:03):
No contest, really, And the.
Speaker 2 (08:04):
Quality is there too.
Speaker 3 (08:05):
The images are comparable to what you get during a
natural eclipse, critically with much less stray light, so you
get a clearer view, especially of that really important inner
corona region. That sustained long duration, high quality observation time
is the revolutionary part.
Speaker 1 (08:20):
It's like having a permanent high definition eclipse observatory in space.
Speaker 3 (08:26):
That's a good way to put it. Two spacecraft acting
as one giant coronagraph.
Speaker 1 (08:30):
So with all this amazing data flowing back, what's the
next step. It's not just about collecting images, it's about
improving our understanding our models, right, particularly space weather models.
Speaker 3 (08:40):
Absolutely, that's a huge part of the why current coronagraphs,
even space based ones, just don't give us enough detail,
especially close to the Sun, to really feed and validate
the sophisticated computer models we're developing.
Speaker 1 (08:54):
Your data starved in a way, you could say.
Speaker 3 (08:55):
That, especially for that critical region near the solar surface.
Rob A three observing right down to the edge like
during a natural eclipse, but for hours on end. That's
the data injection these models need.
Speaker 1 (09:08):
How does that help refine them?
Speaker 3 (09:09):
Well, modelers can take the PROBA three observations, actual images
and data of the inner corona and compare them directly
to their simulations. They can see where their model matches
reality and where it doesn't, and then tweak the model exactly,
adjust the parameters the physics inputs, things like magnetic field strength,
plasma density, until the simulation looks like the real thing
(09:29):
PROBA three is seeing. Take Ku Luvin's Coconut model, for instance.
It's part of Essay's Virtual Space Weather Modeling Center. Okay,
it simulates the corona with PROBA three data. They can
fine tune Coconut to be much more realistic, especially in
how it models energy transport and the very beginnings of
CMEs near the Sun's surface. That was almost impossible before.
Speaker 1 (09:52):
So kinneking the dots for everyone listening. Better models mean
better predictions, that's the goal.
Speaker 3 (09:58):
These refined solar models, combine with models of how CMEs
travel through space and interact with Earth's magnetic field, give
us a much clearer, more comprehensive.
Speaker 1 (10:07):
Picture, which helps us prepare yes.
Speaker 3 (10:10):
Better warnings for potentially disruptive space weather events. It helps
airlines rerect planes, satellite operators take precautions, power grid managers
stabilize their systems. It benefits citizens and industry directly.
Speaker 1 (10:22):
That makes sense. And this whole complex mission, it wasn't
built by just one country, was it.
Speaker 2 (10:26):
Oh no, not at all.
Speaker 3 (10:27):
It's a major international effort led by ESA, the European
Space Agency, But the prime contractor managing the build was
Center in Spain. And then you had contributions from I
think over twenty nine companies across fourteen different countries.
Speaker 1 (10:41):
Wow.
Speaker 3 (10:42):
Yeah, key players like GMV and Airbus in Spain, red
Wire and space Bell and Belgium and many others. And
it launched relatively recently December twenty twenty four from India
on an Indian PSLV rocket. Truly a global collaboration.
Speaker 1 (10:57):
It really is an incredible story. Prova three is such
a testament to well human ingenuity, Isn't it just drive
to understand the universe, even the parts that are hard
to look at. It really is pushing technology to its
limits to answer fundamental questions that blend of precision engineering
and deep scientific curiosity peeking behind the Sun's.
Speaker 3 (11:14):
Glare, and it highlights how vital these kinds of missions
are not just for pure science, which is fascinating in itself,
but for tangible benefits back here on Earth.
Speaker 1 (11:21):
Yeah, protecting our technology, understanding our star's influence exactly.
Speaker 3 (11:25):
The better we understand the Sun, the better prepared we are.
It just reinforces that sense that there's always more to learn,
more to discover, even about something we see every day.
Speaker 1 (11:34):
So true. Okay, here's a final thought then, for you listening.
If we can achieve this kind of precision formation flying
to create an artificial eclipse, what else could we do
with it?
Speaker 2 (11:46):
Hmmm? Interesting question.
Speaker 1 (11:47):
Imagine applying that kind of coordinated multi spacecraft approach to
other hard to observe phenomena. Maybe studying exoplanet atmospheres by
having one spacecraft block the starlight or mapping gravitation fields
with incredible accuracy. What new cosmic windows could this kind
of tech open up.
Speaker 2 (12:05):
The possibilities are vast.
Speaker 1 (12:07):
Definitely something to think about and remember. If you want
to see some of this in action, check out that
video on our channel. For now, thanks for joining us
on this deep dive
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