PROBA-3

Proba-3 is a technological demonstration mission by the European Space Agency devoted to high precision formation flying to achieve scientific coronagraphy. It is part of the series of PROBA satellites that are being used to validate new spacecraft technologies and concepts while also carrying scientific instruments.

Proba-3
An artistic rendering of PROBA-3.
An artistic rendering of PROBA-3.
Mission typeSolar observatory
technology demonstrator
OperatorESA
Websitelink
Mission duration2 years (nominal)
Spacecraft properties
ManufacturerS/C: SENER/Redwire/EADS CASA/GMV/SPACEBEL ASPIICS: CSL
Launch massCSC and OSC in stack: 550 kilograms (1,210 lb)
DimensionsCSC: 1.1 by 1.8 by 1.7 metres (3.6 ft × 5.9 ft × 5.6 ft)
OSC: 0.9 by 1.4 metres (3.0 ft × 4.6 ft)
Start of mission
Launch date2024 (planned)[1]
RocketPSLV-XL (baselined)[2]
Launch siteIndia
ContractorNSIL
Orbital parameters
Reference systemGeocentric
RegimeHighly-elliptical Earth Orbit
Semi-major axis36,943 kilometres (22,955 mi)
Eccentricity0.8111
Perigee altitude600 kilometres (370 mi)
Apogee altitude60,530 kilometres (37,610 mi)
Inclination59 degrees
Period19.7 hours
RAAN153 degrees
Argument of perigee188 degrees
Epochplanned
 

History

The mission concept dates back to 2005 when a study was performed in the ESA CDF. After several phase A studies and a change of industrial organisation at the beginning of the phase B,[3] the mission's implementation phase (Phases C/D/E1) eventually began in July 2014.[4]

The system CDR has been closed in 2018.[5]

The two spacecraft integration before environmental campaign has been completed as of March 2023[6]

Mission concept

Proba-3 consists of two independent, three-axis stabilized spacecraft: the Coronagraph Spacecraft (CSC) and the Occulter Spacecraft (OSC). Both spacecraft will fly close to each other on a highly elliptical orbit around the Earth, with an apogee at 60,500 km altitude.[4][7][8]

Along the apogee arc, when the gravity gradient is significantly smaller, the two spacecraft will autonomously acquire a formation configuration, such that the CSC remains at a fixed position in the shadow cast by the OSC. The CSC hosts a coronagraph which will then be able to observe the Sun Corona without being blinded by the intense light from the photosphere. Given the diameter of the occulter disk on the OSC and the intended Corona observation regions, the CSC must be at approximately 150 meters from the OSC, and maintain this position with millimetric accuracy, both in range and laterally. The scientific objective is to observe the Corona down to about 1.1 solar radius in the visible wavelength range.

Besides formation flying for coronagraphy, some formation flying demonstration manoeuvers (retargeting and resizing manoeuvers) will be attempted during the apogee phase of the orbit, as well as a space rendezvous experiment.[8]

The formation acquisition and control is performed on-board thanks to a set of metrology equipment and actuators. The metrology equipment comprise a laser based system providing high accuracy relative position estimate, a visual based sensor with a coarser precision but wider field of view, and a shadow position sensor providing finest precision when the CSC is in the vicinity of the target position in the shadow cone.

After the apogee arc, the formation is broken by impulsive manoeuvers executed by the S/C. The 2 S/C are placed on a relative trajectory that passively ensures no risk of collision during the perigee passage, when the spacecraft altitude goes down to 600 km. Along the perigee phase of the orbit, the 2 S/C acquire GNSS data to derive a precise estimation of the relative position and velocity that is propagated for a few hours up to the reacquisition of the metrology before the next apogee arc.

The CSC and OSC exchange sensor data and commands through a RF based inter-satellite link to coordinate their activities.

Design

CSC and OSC Spacecraft

The CSC is a 300 kg mini-satellite, hosting the coronagraph ASPIICS and the shadow position sensors. It is equipped with a mono-propellant propulsion system to perform the large delta-V manoeuver necessary for formation acquisition and breaking. It also hosts the targets used by the metrology optical heads on board the OSC.

The OSC is a 250 kg mini-satellite, hosting the laser and visual metrology optical heads. It features the occulter disk that is 1.4 meter in diameter. The shape of its rim is intended to reduce the amount of sun diffracted light entering the coronagraph. The OSC uses a low-thrust cold gas propulsion system that enables the fine position control required for the formation flying.

Science Payloads

The primary payload is the ASPIICS Coronagraph. Its follows the design concept of a classical externally occulted Lyot coronagraph, with the external occulter physically attached to the OSC while the rest of the instrument is on the CSC.[9]

ASPIICS will observe the solar corona through refractive optics, able to select 3 different spectral bands: Fe XIV line @ 530.4 nm, He I D3 line @587.7 nm, and the white-light spectral band [540;570 nm].[10]

It is expected that the data from ASPIICS will fill the gap in term of field of view between EUV imagers and externally occulted coronagraphs, when the latter are monolithic instruments that don't benefit from the longer distance enabled by formation flying.[11]

The Principal Investigator for the coronagraph instrument is from Royal Observatory of Belgium.[12]

A secondary scientific payload (DARA) is hosted on the OSC. DARA stands for Davos Absolute Radiometer and is an absolute radiometer for measuring Total Solar Irradiance (TSI).[13]

Ground Segment and Operations

Like the other Proba satellites, PROBA-3 will be operated from the ESA center in Redu, Belgium.[14]

Project Development

Proba-3 is a project managed by the European Space Agency. The industrial development of the S/C and the ground segment is led by SENER Aerospace[15][16] which coordinates the work of a core team with Airbus Defence and Space, Qinetiq Space, GMV, Celestia Antwerp BV and Spacebel.

The Coronagraph payload is developed for ESA by a consortium led by Liège Space Center (CSL) in Belgium, made up of 15 companies and institutes from five ESA Member States.[16]

DARA is provided by the PMOD institute in Switzerland.[11]

Testing of the mission's vision-based sensor system was performed at ESA's ESTEC technical centre in the Netherlands in March 2021. The system will enable the two spacecraft to fly in a precise formation. The testing reportedly yielded promising results.[17]

See also

References
  1. "Proba-3 complete: Formation-flying satellites fully integrated". ESA. 27 March 2023. Retrieved 28 March 2023.
  2. Arlanzón, Jesualdo (2020). "PROBA 3 Thermal Design and Analysis" (PDF). Retrieved 10 November 2021.
  3. Llorente, J. Salvatore; Agenjo, A.; Carrascosa, C.; de Negueruela, C.; Mestreau-Garreau, A.; Cropp, A.; Santovincenzo, A. (January 2013). "PROBA-3: Precise formation flying demonstration mission". Acta Astronautica. Elsevier. 82 (1): 38–46. Bibcode:2013AcAau..82...38L. doi:10.1016/j.actaastro.2012.05.029. Retrieved 1 April 2021.
  4. "Proba-3 Mission". ESA. Retrieved 6 March 2021.
  5. "Proba-3 Technologies". ESA. Retrieved 6 March 2021.
  6. "Proba-3 complete: Formation-flying satellites fully integrated". ESA. 27 March 2023. Retrieved 28 March 2023.
  7. "Proba-3 Platforms". ESA. Retrieved 6 March 2021.
  8. Penin, Luis (1–6 August 2020). Proba-3: ESA's Small Satellites Precise Formation Flying Mission to Study the Sun's Inner Corona as Never Before. Small Satellite Conference 2020. Utah State University, Logan, UT: SmallSat.
  9. Galano, Damien (6 July 2018). Development of ASPIICS: a coronagraph based on Proba-3 formation flying mission. SPIE Astronomical Telescopes + Instrumentation, 2018. Austin, Texas, United States: Proceedings of the SPIE. doi:10.1117/12.2312493.
  10. Galy, C.; Thizy, C.; Stockman, Y.; Galano, D.; Rougeot, R.; Melich, R.; Shestov, S.; Landini, F.; Zukhov, A.; Kirschner, V.; Horodyska, P.; Fineschi, S. (6 July 2019). "Straylight analysis on ASPIICS, PROBA-3 coronagraph". Proceedings of the SPIE. 11180 (111802H): 29. Bibcode:2019SPIE11180E..2HG. doi:10.1117/12.2536008.
  11. Zhukov, Andrei (22 November 2018). PROBA-3/ASPIICS and its potential synergies with Solar Orbiter/Metis (PDF). 6th Metis Workshop. Göttingen: Max Planck Institute for Solar System Research. Retrieved 13 October 2019.
  12. "ESA Bulletin 160 (November 2014)" (PDF). ESA. November 2014. p. 61. ISSN 0376-4265.
  13. "DARA Description". ESA. Retrieved 6 March 2021.
  14. "About Proba-3". ESA. Retrieved 23 November 2022.
  15. "SENER and ESA reach an agreement for the prime contractor role on phases C/D and E1 of the Proba 3 mission". SENER (Press release). 14 June 2014. Retrieved 6 March 2021.
  16. "Proba-3 double-satellite nearer to space". ESA. 8 December 2014. Retrieved 6 March 2021.
  17. Parsonson, Andrew (29 March 2021). "ESA utilize longest corridor to test next-gen satellite technology". Rocket Rundown. Retrieved 1 April 2021.
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