Proba-V
About Proba-V
The ‘V’ in its name stands for Vegetation: Proba-V will fly a reduced-mass version of the Vegetation instrument currently on board the Spot satellites to provide a daily overview of global vegetation growth.
Bearing a different designation from its predecessors, Proba-V is an operational as well as experimental mission, designed to serve an existing user community.
The aim is to guarantee data continuity for the Vegetation dataset once the current Spot missions end.
| Proba-V facts and figures | |
|---|---|
| Launch date: | April 2013 |
| Mass: | 160 kg |
| Orbit: | Sun-synchronised polar orbit, 820 km, with a 10:30 AM local time at the descending node |
| Instrument: | Newly designed version of the Vegetation instrument flown on the Spot series |
| Guest technology payloads: | Gallium Nitride amplifier incorporated in communication subsystem; Energetic Particle Telescope and one other payload to be decided at a later stage |
| Prime contractor: | Qinetiq Space Belgium |
| Payload developer: | OIP Space Systems |
| Ground Station: | Satellite’s mission control centre in Redu, Belgium complemented by a data reception station to be located in the north of Europe. |
| Launcher: | Vega |
Last update: 17 December 2012