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Proba-2 tracks Sun surging into space
30 June 2010
| Proba-2's SWAP instrument observes a Coronal Mass Ejection (CME) leaving the Sun's surface on 13 April 2010. This animation is built up out of images acquired approximately once a minute. The occasional 'snowstorm' background is caused by radiation effects. SWAP has a very wide field of view, extending out to more than half a solar radius past the Sun's disc, so CMEs can be tracked as they leave the Sun's surface. Because Proba-2 is such a small satellite, less than a cubic metre in volume, it is also a relatively simple matter to change the spacecraft's pointing direction if required to follow a particular event.
Credits: ESA/ROB | |  |  | |
| | | | | Proba-2 is an experimental ESA micro-satellite carrying four solar physics and space weather instruments and a total of 17 new technology payloads
Credits: ESA | | | | |
| | | | Technological stepping stone
| A strip of four black-coloured solar panels, centre, are surrounded by raised triangular mirrors to focus extra sunlight on them and increase their efficiency. A second strip of four panels (on left) serves as a control for the experiment. Deveoped by CSL and flown on the front panel of Proba-2, the aim is to increase efficiency so less complex and expensive solar panels can be used on telecom satellites and other power-hungry missions. Sunlight has been concentrated by a factor of 1.55 in the initial eight months of Proba-2's lifetime.
Credits: ESA/CSL | | | | |
| | | | | Most space missions end as onboard fuel runs low. But Proba-2’s gaseous xenon fuel tank includes four special solid propellant cool gas generators which can be ignited to release gaseous nitrogen at room temperature, replenishing fuel tank pressure to squeeze out more performance. The work of Netherlands-based Bradford Engineering and TNO, the first firing of this Cool Gas Demonstration Experiment (COGEX) is scheduled later in 2010.
“The gas is chemically bonded in solid material for storage in a low volume with no pressurisation for long time periods,” said Johan Kuiper of Bradford Engineering. “Terrestrial uses include amongst others fire extinguishers, flotation devices and medical equipment.”
Credits: ESA/Bradford Engineering/TNO | | | | |
| | | | Following solar storms into space
| Proba-2's two solar physics instruments, SWAP and LYRA, are increasingly being used in conjunction. SWAP images the solar disc in extreme ultraviolet while LYRA measures the Sun's radiation output at key wavelengths. Output changes often correspond to particular features on the Sun's surface, as in the solar storm observed here. Both instruments are being operated by the Royal Observatory of Belgium. The results seen here come from 7 June 2010.
Credits: ROB/ESA | | | | |
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| | Proba-2 Proba-2 on ESA TVRelated news Solar eclipse seen from spaceTechnology-testing Proba-2 opens new eye on the SunRelated links Qinetiq Space (B)Centre Spatial de Liège (CSL)Cool Gas Generator Demonstration Experiment: COGEXRoyal Observatory of BelgiumROB Proba-2 science centreMore information Proba-2: technology demonstrationsProba-2: science payloadsTechnology demonstration missionsProba-2 operations
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