PROBA
Encyclopedia
PROBA is a 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....

 launched by ISRO in 2001 as part of the ESA
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 MicroSat program. This small (40×60×80 cm; 95 kg) boxlike system, with solar panel
Photovoltaic module
A solar panel is a packaged, connected assembly of solar cells, also known as photovoltaic cells...

 collectors on its surface, has remarkable image-making qualities. It hosts two Earth Observation instruments dubbed CHRIS and HRC. It is a hyperspectral system (200 narrow bands) that image at 30 m, plus three in the visible that have 15 m resolution.

The second satellite in the Proba-series, Proba-2
Proba-2
PROBA2 is the second satellite in the European Space Agency's series of PROBA low-cost satellites that are being used to validate new spacecraft technologies while also carrying scientific instruments. PROBA2 is a small satellite developed under an ESA General Support Technology Program contract...

 has been launched on November 2, 2009, together with the SMOS
Soil Moisture and Ocean Salinity satellite
The Soil Moisture and Ocean Salinity Satellite is a part of ESA's Living Planet Programme intended to provide new insights into Earth's water cycle and climate...

 mission. Proba 2 is a 0.6 × 0.6 × 0.8 meter, box-shaped structure weighing 130 kg with two deployable solar panels. It has a total of four instruments; two complementary solar observation instruments dubbed SWAP and LYRA, and two plasma measurement instruments dubbed TPMU and DSLP.

Further planned satellites in the Proba series are the formation flight Proba-3
Proba-3
PROBA-3 is the third satellite mission in the European Space Agency's series of PROBA low-cost satellites that are being used to validate new spacecraft technologies while also carrying scientific instruments. Currently PROBA-3 is in its preparatory study phase...

 and Proba-V
Proba-V
PROBA-V is the fourth satellite in the European Space Agency's Proba series. The V standing for vegetation, Proba-V will fly a reduced-mass version of the Vegetation instrument currently on board the SPOT satellites to provide a daily overview of global vegetation growth.Bearing a different...

(Proba Vegetation). They are on-going developments without defined launch dates.

External links

  • http://earth.esa.int/proba/
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