PROBA

PROBA-1
NamesPROBA, PROBA-1
Mission typeExperimental, Earth Observation
OperatorESA
COSPAR ID2001-049B Edit this at Wikidata
SATCAT no.26958
WebsiteProba-1 applications
Mission durationElapsed: 23 years, 18 days
Spacecraft properties
BusPROBA
ManufacturerQinetiQ Space (previously Verhaert Space)
Launch mass94 kg (207 lb)
Dry mass94 kg (207 lb)
Dimensions0.6 m × 0.6 m × 0.8 m (2 ft 0 in × 2 ft 0 in × 2 ft 7 in)
Power90 W
Start of mission
Launch date04:53, 22 October 2001 (UTC) (2001-10-22T04:53Z)
RocketPSLV C3
Launch siteSriharikota FLP
ContractorISRO
Orbital parameters
Reference systemGeocentric
RegimeSun-synchronous
Eccentricity0.008866
Perigee altitude553 km (344 mi)
Apogee altitude677 km (421 mi)
Inclination97.9 degrees
Period97 minutes
Epoch22 October 2001 00:53:00 UTC

PROBA (Project for On-Board Autonomy), renamed PROBA-1, is a Belgian satellite technology demonstration mission launched atop an Indian Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle by ISRO on 22 October 2001.[1][2] The satellite was funded through the ESA's MicroSat and General Study Program with the objective of addressing issues regarding on-board operational autonomy of a generic satellite platform.[3][4] This small (60×60×80 cm; 95 kg) boxlike system, with solar panel collectors on its surface, hosts two Earth Observation instruments dubbed CHRIS and HRC. CHRIS is a hyperspectral system (200 narrow bands) that images at 17 m resolution, while HRC is a monochromatic camera that images visible light at 5 m resolution.[5]

With an initial lifetime of one to two years, the satellite celebrated its 20th year of operations in 2021.[5] On 9 March 2018, it surpassed ERS-2 as ESA's longest operated Earth observation mission of all time.[6] ESA aims to deorbit the satellite through the ClearSpace-1 mission in 2026.[7]

  1. ^ Ramakrishnan, S.; Somanath, S.; Balakrishnan, S. S. (January 2002). "Multi-Orbit Mission by PSLV-C3 and Future Launch Opportunities". IAF Abstracts: 936. Bibcode:2002iaf..confE.936R.
  2. ^ "PSLV-C3". ISRO. 22 October 2001. Archived from the original on 25 March 2014. Retrieved 25 October 2021.
  3. ^ "PROBA-1 - Overview". ESA. 11 December 2012. Retrieved 25 October 2021.
  4. ^ "PROBA-1 (Project for On-Board Autonomy - 1)". www.eoportal.org. Retrieved 2022-12-28.
  5. ^ a b "Proba-1 Celebrates 20th Birthday In Orbit". ESA. 22 October 2021. Retrieved 25 October 2021.
  6. ^ "Proba-1 sets new record". ESA. 8 March 2018. Retrieved 11 March 2018.
  7. ^ Werner, Debra (24 April 2024). "Major changes approved for ClearSpace-1 mission". SpaceNews. Retrieved 24 April 2024.