Proba-1 Completed 20 Years In Orbit
Source : ESA
GS III : Science A nd Technology
What is discussed under Proba-1 Completed 20 Years In Orbit ?
- Key Facts on Proba-1
- About European Space Agency (ESA)
Why in News ?
ESA’s Proba-1 minisatellite was launched into orbit two decades ago.
Key Facts
- Proba-1 is roughly the size of a hotel fridge but hosts two Earth-observing instruments along with numerous technological firsts.
- It remains fully operational, however, making it the Agency’s oldest serving Earth observing mission.
- The first in ESA’s family of Project for On-Board Autonomy missions, Proba-1 began life as a technology demonstration satellite, subsequently becoming an Earth observation mission.
- Its main hyperspectral Compact High Resolution Imaging Spectrometer (CHRIS) is accompanied by the monochromatic 5-m spatial resolution High Resolution Camera.
- Proba-1 has sometimes been described as ‘NewSpace before NewSpace’.
- The mission continues to deliver imagery to scientific teams around the globe, while also providing valuable data on the longevity of space systems and components.
- Other Proba Satellite
- Proba-1 was followed by the Sun-observing Proba-2 in 2009.
- Vegetation-tracking Proba-V in 2013 with the double-satellite Proba-3 to demonstrate precision formation flying while studying the Sun’s corona planned for launch in 2023.
About European Space Agency (ESA)
- ESA is an intergovernmental organisation comprising of 22 member states.
- It is dedicated for the exploration of space.
- ESA was established in 1975.
- It is headquartered in Paris.
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