Not because it is easy but because it is hard: this historic space phrase is pretty much the definition of ESA’s double-satellite Proba-3 mission, which will employ precise formation flying to produce artificial total solar eclipses in orbit, casting a shadow from one spacecraft to the other. No-one has ever flown a mission like this, up until now. But just why is it so hard? Find out in this curtain-raising video trailer.

The Ignis mission, named after the Latin word for ‘fire,’ symbolises the spark igniting a new era in Poland’s space endeavours.

The central motif of the patch features an eagle – a reference to the emblem of Poland – in white and red, reflecting the colours and design of the Polish national flag. Its tail gracefully evokes a flame, while its outstretched wings trace the contours of the Orla Perć mountain range in the Polish Tatra Mountains. Within the mission’s name, the second ‘i’ takes the form of the International Space Station. Above it, stars converge to form the Scutum constellation, paying homage

What’s harder than flying a single satellite in Earth orbit? Flying two – right beside each other, at proximities that would normally trigger collision avoidance manoeuvres.