Due for departure into Space in 2024, Proba-3 – the world’s first precision formation flying mission – will be ESA’s next Sun observation mission following the recently launched Solar Orbiter.

For many years, SPACEBEL is bringing our expertise to this groundbreaking Space mission with the software design, development, production, integration and validation of the on-board software for both Proba-3 platforms, the satellite simulators, the control centre and mission centre.

Like all Proba (Project for On-Board Autonomy) satellites, this upcoming technology demonstrator will test new Space technologies destined for future ESA missions at lower cost. Proba-3 will be composed of two satellites flying tandem and behaving like a unique spacecraft. The scientific goal of the mission is the study of the solar corona. One satellite will act as an occulter to create an artificial solar eclipse on a sustained basis while the other will study the halo around the Sun.

For a better understanding of what is at stake, have a look at this GIF animation: https://tinyurl.com/rzgrc55 .