PROBA

<p>PROBA (Project for On-Board Autonomy), renamed PROBA-1, is a Belgian <a href="/facts/Satellite/PTX8c68t">satellite</a> technology demonstration mission launched atop an Indian <a href="/facts/Polar_Satellite_Launch_Vehicle/KantsJM7">Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle</a> by <a href="/facts/ISRO/CdAoFQTL">ISRO</a> on 22 October 2001. The satellite was funded through the <a href="/facts/European_Space_Agency/L8YRNV0C">ESA</a>'s <a href="/facts/Miniaturized_satellite/vXN5EwvX">MicroSat</a> 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 <a href="/facts/Photovoltaic_module/5Xefaayl">solar panel</a> collectors on its surface, hosts two Earth Observation instruments dubbed CHRIS and HRC. CHRIS is a <a href="/facts/Hyperspectral/3NsxsAeL">hyperspectral</a> system (200 narrow bands) that images at 17 m resolution, while HRC is a monochromatic camera that images <a href="/facts/Visible_light/jeofpMn4">visible light</a> at 5 m resolution.
</p><p>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 <a href="/facts/ERS-2/4lhXPFuw">ERS-2</a> as ESA's longest operated <a href="/facts/Earth_observation/XaFvkHl1">Earth observation</a> mission of all time. ESA aims to deorbit the satellite through the <a href="/facts/ClearSpace-1/Qk1ERK0H">ClearSpace-1</a> mission in 2026.
</p>

PROBA open-in-new

PROBA