Curious about relationship between ESA’s different projects. For the development of Probe 3 precision maneuvering systems, was there any overlap with LISA mission (where 3 satellites will fly in precise formation)?
So Proba-3 was supposed to be a demonstrator for other ESA concepts where formation flying would be used (the proposed Xeus telescope was the main one), but as far as I'm aware none of them are approved to go ahead. I didn't see much overlap with LISA. Some of the people at ESA would be involved with both projects, but the technologies needed to implement formation flying in Proba-3 and LISA are actually quite different (because LISA satellites will fly at relative distances of millions of kilometres, whereas the two Proba satellites are <150m apart).
I’m so out of touch of sciencey stuff that I’m not sure how many people work on certain projects like that, but it’s a super cool feat to have something you influenced go into SPACE and bring back info!
Thanks! Yes, it's a really nice moment to see something you worked on actually go into space! Well its not my first time to do that, actually, but its the biggest project I worked on that actually went to space. I'm honestly not sure how many people worked on Proba overall. The direct team is quite small, maybe about 20 people, but then there's a lot of people involved in other ways too (like scientists, the operators, engineers at various companies, etc).
All of your topics are enormously interesting, Alistaire. I'm very keen on learning about your work on the Proba mission! Venus? I vote on minimal surface water from the get-go. Dark second big bang? I'm not even sure there was a first! Or that "dark matter" isnt a kludge- an admission that we don't yet understand the deep working of the universe.
I'm pretty sure there's something we miss about the creation of the universe, though I'm really skeptical that a second big bang is the answer! Thanks for the comments, always good to see them.
Curious about relationship between ESA’s different projects. For the development of Probe 3 precision maneuvering systems, was there any overlap with LISA mission (where 3 satellites will fly in precise formation)?
So Proba-3 was supposed to be a demonstrator for other ESA concepts where formation flying would be used (the proposed Xeus telescope was the main one), but as far as I'm aware none of them are approved to go ahead. I didn't see much overlap with LISA. Some of the people at ESA would be involved with both projects, but the technologies needed to implement formation flying in Proba-3 and LISA are actually quite different (because LISA satellites will fly at relative distances of millions of kilometres, whereas the two Proba satellites are <150m apart).
Thanks, that’s good to know.
Congrats on Proba 3!
I’m so out of touch of sciencey stuff that I’m not sure how many people work on certain projects like that, but it’s a super cool feat to have something you influenced go into SPACE and bring back info!
Thanks for this installment it was great.
Thanks! Yes, it's a really nice moment to see something you worked on actually go into space! Well its not my first time to do that, actually, but its the biggest project I worked on that actually went to space. I'm honestly not sure how many people worked on Proba overall. The direct team is quite small, maybe about 20 people, but then there's a lot of people involved in other ways too (like scientists, the operators, engineers at various companies, etc).
All of your topics are enormously interesting, Alistaire. I'm very keen on learning about your work on the Proba mission! Venus? I vote on minimal surface water from the get-go. Dark second big bang? I'm not even sure there was a first! Or that "dark matter" isnt a kludge- an admission that we don't yet understand the deep working of the universe.
I'm pretty sure there's something we miss about the creation of the universe, though I'm really skeptical that a second big bang is the answer! Thanks for the comments, always good to see them.
Sorry about that extra "e". I hadn't had my cuppa yet!