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.
NORAD ID
68850
International Designator
2026-094M
Epoch
Sun, 19 Jul 2026 18:18:10 GMT
Apogee
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Perigee
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Inclination
97.29°
Right Ascension
214.79°
Eccentricity
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Argument of Perigee
89.45°
Period
93.91 min
Mean Motion
15.33 rev/day
Latitude
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Longitude
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Altitude
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Velocity
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Name
STARLINK-37482
Alternative Name
N/A
Type
Status
Owner
SPXS
Country
United States
Constellation
N/A
Related Satellites
Major Events
N/A
1 68850U 26094M 26200.76261911 .00012873 00000+0 40054-3 0 9997
2 68850 97.2854 214.7889 0001176 89.4517 270.6861 15.33434379 13042
Source: Celestrak
Length
0.3
Diameter
4.1
Span
29.0
Dry Mass
530
Launch Mass
575
Shape
Box + pan
Radar Cross Section
Unknown
Visual Magnitude
Unknown
Color
Unknown
Material Composition
Unknown
Payload
Starlink Group 17-16-12
Purpose
Unknown
Mission
Unknown
Manufacturer
SPXS
Life Expectancy
Unknown
Bus
Starlink V2MO
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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