Formation flying has reached a new milestone after one spacecraft found another with a laser, despite launch vibrations leaving it unsure where its colleague had gone.
Formation flying finds the correct spacecraft
ESA’s Proba-3 pair completed two full formation orbits. Then engineers activated a precision laser that needed to lock onto a reflector on the companion craft.
Dr Orion Squint, Head of Looking Over There, said: “We knew the target was somewhere in space. Unfortunately, space continues to be unnecessarily broad and has ignored several requests to install signs.”
Therefore, the laser traced a spiral search pattern. This was the scientific version of waving above parked cars while shouting the make and colour of the spacecraft.
After several tense minutes, the control room received a locked signal. Engineers cheered because the two satellites had located each other without creating a family messaging group called Where Is Everyone.
The achievement supports precise formation control for solar observations. One craft will block the Sun while the other studies its corona, a division of labour more advanced than most offices where four people block the printer and nobody observes why.
Now the laser can be calibrated. The spacecraft will fly with extraordinary precision, separated across orbit but united by a beam and a shared reluctance to ask mission control for directions.
Read the real story: ESA’s Proba-3 laser update.
Mission planners say the technique may transform space science. It may also finally settle every office car park by sending a laser into orbit whenever someone forgets which grey hatchback contains the laptop charger. The satellites have requested no further comparison with human beings.
