PROBA

PROBA-1
NamesPROBA, PROBA-1
Mission typeExperimental, Earth Observation
OperatorESA
COSPAR ID2001-049B
SATCAT no.26958
WebsiteProba-1 applications
Mission durationElapsed: 23 years, 7 months, 26 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) (2001-10-22T04:53:00Z)
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. 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. 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.

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