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
April 3, 1965
Launch Site
AFWTR
Launch Pad
PALC2-4
Launch Vehicle
Atlas SLV-3 Agena D
NORAD ID
39609
International Designator
1965-027FS
Epoch
Fri, 03 Jul 2026 12:08:35 GMT
Apogee
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Perigee
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Inclination
90.25°
Right Ascension
14.88°
Eccentricity
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Argument of Perigee
14.48°
Period
110.92 min
Mean Motion
12.98 rev/day
Latitude
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Longitude
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Altitude
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Velocity
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Name
OPS 4682 DEB
Alternative Name
deb SNAPSHOT
Type
Status
Owner
AFSD
Country
United States
Constellation
N/A
Related Satellites
Major Events
N/A
1 39609U 65027FS 26184.50596740 .00000264 00000-0 87416-3 0 9995
2 39609 90.2514 14.8808 0027825 14.4845 13.3982 12.98175234598425
Source: Celestrak
Length
0
Diameter
0
Span
0
Dry Mass
0
Launch Mass
0
Shape
N/A
Radar Cross Section
0.0083
Visual Magnitude
Unknown
Color
Unknown
Material Composition
Unknown
Payload
Unknown
Purpose
Unknown
Mission
Unknown
Manufacturer
Unknown
Life Expectancy
Unknown
Bus
Unknown
Configuration
Unknown
Motor
Unknown
Equipment
Unknown
Power System
Unknown
ADCS
Unknown
Transmitter Frequency
Unknown
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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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