The European Space Agency (ESA) is Europe’s gateway to space. Its mission is to shape the development of Europe’s space capability and ensure that investment in space continues to deliver benefits to the citizens of Europe and the world.
Find out more about space activities in our 23 Member States, and understand how ESA works together with their national agencies, institutions and organisations.
Exploring our Solar System and unlocking the secrets of the Universe
Go to topicProtecting life and infrastructure on Earth and in orbit
Go to topicUsing space to benefit citizens and meet future challenges on Earth
Go to topicMaking space accessible and developing the technologies for the future
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The two satellites have been designed with maximum commonality in functioning and configuration. Both spacecraft share the same power generation and onboard data handling systems:
Occulter
Weighing about 250 kg, the cube-shaped Occulter bearing a 140-cm diameter disk will fly with the same face toward the Sun at all times. For the mission’s science operations, it casts a precisely controlled shadow onto the Coronagraph spacecraft. The Occulter is responsible for performing the high-accuracy formation control using cold-gas millinewton thrusters, producing minimum force equivalent to a single falling feather. The DARA radiometer is mounted on the Occulter’s Sunward side.
Coronagraph
The 300 kg Coronagraph spacecraft hosts the mission’s main ASPIICS coronagraph instrument. Like the Occulter, the spacecraft is designed to point the same face at the Sun. Flashing LEDs and a retro-reflector for lasers are mounted on the Coronagraph’s face to help guide the Occulter. Because the Coronagraph will often be shaded it possesses a single side-mounted solar panel to generate power. The Coronagraph has monopropellant thrusters to perform newton-scale manoeuvring.