ESA Investigates Loss of Contact with Proba-3 Coronagraph Spacecraft
The European Space Agency is working to re-establish communication with the Proba-3 Coronagraph spacecraft after an anomaly caused it to lose orientation and enter survival mode.
In mid-February 2026, the European Space Agency (ESA) lost contact with the Coronagraph spacecraft of its Proba-3 mission following an onboard anomaly. This incident led to a loss of attitude control, causing the spacecraft's solar panels to misalign with the Sun. Consequently, the onboard battery discharged rapidly, triggering the spacecraft to enter survival mode, during which only minimal electronics remain active and data transmission ceases.
Proba-3, launched in December 2024, comprises two satellites—the Coronagraph and the Occulter—that operate in precise formation to create artificial solar eclipses. This configuration allows scientists to study the Sun's outer atmosphere, or corona, in detail. The two spacecraft must maintain a separation of approximately 150 meters with millimeter precision to achieve this objective.
The Occulter spacecraft remains healthy and operational. Mission teams are exploring the possibility of using it to safely approach the Coronagraph and assess its orientation to support recovery efforts. Since its launch, Proba-3 has completed over 60 accurate formation-flying orbits, each providing hours of scientific data. The root cause of the anomaly is currently under investigation.