About

PROBA2 was launched, together with the SMOS satellite, on a Rockot launcher from the Russian launch base Plesetsk, on November 2 2009.

PROBA2 is a microsatellite developed as an ESA technology mission by Verhaert Space (Kruibeke, Belgium). The PROBA2 mission is twofold. On one hand it is a technology demonstration mission, testing new technologies for satellites and systems in-flight. On the other hand PROBA2 has a scientific mission: its sun-synchronous orbit, combined with two instruments for solar observation (SWAP and LYRA) and two space weather instruments (DSLP and TPMU) forms the ideal basis for operational space weather forecasting.

PROBA2 carries two solar instruments (SWAP and LYRA) and two instruments to study the space environment surrounding the spacecraft (DSLP and TPMU).

The PROBA2 Science Center (P2SC), headquartered at the Royal Observatory of Belgium, handles all aspects of mission science planning and instrument commanding for SWAP and LYRA as well as processing and distribution of all SWAP and LYRA science data.