ESA reaches new benchmark in autonomous formation flying

Berlin, Germany (SPX) Jan 01, 2026

ESA reports that its Proba-3 mission has achieved autonomous formation flying in orbit with millimetre-level precision.

Ian Carnelli, ESA Head of Systems Department, stated: "Proba-3 proves that bold in-orbit experimentation is essential to turning breakthrough ideas into real space capabilities. ESA does not just design innovation, it flies it".