Proba-3
Encyclopedia
PROBA-3 is the third satellite mission in the European Space Agency
's series of PROBA
low-cost satellite
s that are being used to validate new spacecraft technologies while also carrying scientific instruments. Currently PROBA-3 is in its preparatory study phase. PROBA-3 will show the technology that is required for formation flying of two or more spacecraft.
PROBA-3 will be composed of two independent, three-axis stabilized spacecraft flying close to one another with the ability to accurately control the attitude and separation of the two craft. The spacecraft pair will fly a highly elliptical orbit divided between periods of accurate formation flying, when payload operations will be possible, and periods of free flight. The length of the formation control period will be the result of a trade-off involving the amount of fuel needed to maintain the orbits when in formation.
The primary mission of PROBA-3 is solar
coronagraphy by using the telescope on the larger of the two satellites to view the sun's corona while the other spacecraft is maneuvered to accurately occult the disc of the sun.
Currently, PROBA-3 is scheduled to be launched in 2015-2016.The mission is planned to have a lifetime of around two years.
European Space Agency
The European Space Agency , established in 1975, is an intergovernmental organisation dedicated to the exploration of space, currently with 18 member states...
's series of PROBA
PROBA
PROBA is a satellite launched by ISRO in 2001 as part of the ESA's MicroSat program. This small boxlike system, with solar panel collectors on its surface, has remarkable image-making qualities. It hosts two Earth Observation instruments dubbed CHRIS and HRC...
low-cost satellite
Satellite
In the context of spaceflight, a satellite is an object which has been placed into orbit by human endeavour. Such objects are sometimes called artificial satellites to distinguish them from natural satellites such as the Moon....
s that are being used to validate new spacecraft technologies while also carrying scientific instruments. Currently PROBA-3 is in its preparatory study phase. PROBA-3 will show the technology that is required for formation flying of two or more spacecraft.
PROBA-3 will be composed of two independent, three-axis stabilized spacecraft flying close to one another with the ability to accurately control the attitude and separation of the two craft. The spacecraft pair will fly a highly elliptical orbit divided between periods of accurate formation flying, when payload operations will be possible, and periods of free flight. The length of the formation control period will be the result of a trade-off involving the amount of fuel needed to maintain the orbits when in formation.
The primary mission of PROBA-3 is solar
Sun
The Sun is the star at the center of the Solar System. It is almost perfectly spherical and consists of hot plasma interwoven with magnetic fields...
coronagraphy by using the telescope on the larger of the two satellites to view the sun's corona while the other spacecraft is maneuvered to accurately occult the disc of the sun.
Currently, PROBA-3 is scheduled to be launched in 2015-2016.The mission is planned to have a lifetime of around two years.