Key Takeaways
- An anomaly on the Proba-3 mission’s Coronagraph spacecraft caused a loss of contact.
- The spacecraft has entered survival mode due to a rapid discharge of its onboard battery.
- Mission teams are working to re-establish contact and investigate recovery options using the operational Occulter spacecraft.
Anomaly Causes Loss of Contact on Proba-3 Mission
An unexpected anomaly occurred on the Proba-3 mission’s Coronagraph spacecraft over the weekend of February 14-15, 2026. This incident triggered a series of events that led to a progressive loss of the spacecraft’s orientation and prevented it from entering safe mode. The failure to maintain proper attitude meant the spacecraft’s solar panel could no longer align with the Sun, resulting in a rapid discharge of the onboard battery.
As a consequence, the Coronagraph spacecraft entered survival mode. In this state, only minimal electronic systems are operational, and data transmission to ground control has been halted. Mission teams are currently investigating the root cause of the anomaly. Dedicated efforts are now underway to recover the situation and restore communication with the spacecraft.
One of the critical steps in this recovery effort involves the mission’s Occulter spacecraft, which remains healthy and operational. Teams are evaluating methods for the Occulter to safely approach the Coronagraph and assess its orientation in space. This operation is essential for gathering the necessary data to facilitate recovery.
Updates regarding the situation will be shared as new information becomes available, emphasizing the commitment of mission teams to resolve the issues faced by the Proba-3 mission.
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