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 loss of contact in mid-February 2026.
In mid-February 2026, the European Space Agency (ESA) lost contact with the Coronagraph spacecraft of its Proba-3 mission following an onboard anomaly. The incident led to a loss of attitude control, causing the spacecraft's solar panels to misalign from the Sun, resulting in battery depletion and activation of survival mode, which halted data transmission.
Proba-3, launched in December 2024, comprises two satellites—the Coronagraph and the Occulter—designed to fly in precise formation to create artificial solar eclipses, enabling detailed study of the Sun's corona. The Occulter spacecraft remains operational.
ESA is investigating the root cause of the anomaly and exploring the possibility of using the Occulter to approach the Coronagraph to assess its orientation and support recovery efforts.