Science
PROBA-2
Solar Observatory / Technology Demo · ESA
Right now
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ESA's second PROBA technology demonstrator became one of the best solar observation satellites ever launched. Its SWAP instrument captures the widest-field extreme ultraviolet images of the Sun's corona from any spacecraft, while LYRA measures solar UV irradiance 20 times per second — fast enough to capture solar flare onset with millisecond timing. Despite being classified as a technology demonstrator, PROBA-2 has published hundreds of science papers.
Its orbit
- Orbit
- Low Earth Orbitcan appear as a fast-moving star at dawn or dusk
- Altitude
- 438–449 mi (705–723 km)
- Inclination
- 98.2°
- One orbit
- 98.9 minutes14.6 orbits a day
- NORAD ID
- 36037
- Int’l designator
- 2009-059B
- Launched
- 2009
Orbital elements from CelesTrak, as of 22 Sep 2026.
More science
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- PROBA-VGlobal Vegetation Monitoring
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- PROPCUBE 3US Naval Technology Demonstrator
- PROTOMETHEETechnology Demonstrator