ESA's Proba-3 Formation-Flyer Goes Silent | KeepTrack Space Brief
ESA's Proba-3 spacecraft lost contact last month, grounding the dual-satellite solar eclipse mission. Formation flying between both craft is critical for coronagraph science.
Launch Date
December 3, 2012
Launch Site
SEAL
Launch Pad
KLA -
Launch Vehicle
Zenit-3SL
NORAD ID
39021
International Designator
2012-069B
Epoch
Sat, 04 Jul 2026 05:12:03 GMT
Apogee
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Perigee
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Inclination
0.83°
Right Ascension
29.42°
Eccentricity
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Argument of Perigee
114.57°
Period
648.93 min
Mean Motion
2.22 rev/day
Latitude
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Longitude
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Altitude
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Velocity
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Name
BLOCK DM-SL R/B
Alternative Name
Blok DM-SL No. 34L
Type
Status
Owner
ELUS
Country
United States
Constellation
N/A
Related Satellites
Major Events
N/A
1 39021U 12069B 26185.21670490 -.00000085 00000-0 00000-0 0 9998
2 39021 0.8302 29.4200 6871183 114.5654 291.9857 2.21902312110147
Source: Celestrak
Length
6.3
Diameter
3.7
Span
6.3
Dry Mass
3070
Launch Mass
7400
Shape
Cyl
Radar Cross Section
19.018
Visual Magnitude
Unknown
Color
Unknown
Material Composition
Unknown
Payload
Blok DM-SL
Purpose
Unknown
Mission
Unknown
Manufacturer
RKKE
Life Expectancy
Unknown
Bus
Blok DM2
Configuration
Unknown
Motor
11D58M
Equipment
Unknown
Power System
Unknown
ADCS
Unknown
Transmitter Frequency
Unknown
Learn more about satellites and other related topics.
ESA's Proba-3 spacecraft lost contact last month, grounding the dual-satellite solar eclipse mission. Formation flying between both craft is critical for coronagraph science.
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