Key Takeaways
- ESA’s Villafranca ground station received telemetry from the Coronagraph spacecraft after a month of silence.
- The Coronagraph is currently in safe mode and undergoing health checks for potential damage.
- Mission team expresses relief and excitement over the successful communication but emphasizes caution moving forward.
Telemetry Confirmed from Coronagraph Spacecraft
ESA’s ground station in Villafranca, Spain, recently regained communication with the Coronagraph spacecraft after more than a month of silence. The telemetry received includes crucial data regarding the spacecraft’s temperature, voltage levels, and overall system health. Currently, the Coronagraph is in safe mode and stable, as the mission team begins health checks to assess any potential damage to the spacecraft.
The telemetry indicates that the spacecraft’s solar panel is oriented towards the Sun, ensuring the onboard electronics remain powered and that the battery is being charged with any available energy. Since the spacecraft has been floating in space and exposed to extremely cold temperatures for an extended period, it requires time to warm up before proceeding with major operational tasks.
Damien Galano, the Proba-3 Mission Manager, expressed his relief and excitement, stating, “Hearing back from the Coronagraph is amazing news and a great relief! Since the issue was detected a month ago, our mission team, operators, and industry partners have been working tirelessly to get the spacecraft back.” The reinstatement of communication has sparked palpable excitement within the team, but Galano emphasized that their work is far from complete. “We need to carefully look at the data before we take any further steps,” he added.
Further updates regarding the Coronagraph and its mission will be shared on the Proba-3 blog as more information becomes available.
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