ESA micro-satellite to test automatic spacecraft technology
A European Space Agency (ESA) micro-satellite no bigger than an average PC computer is to be launched into space at the end of October. As the first ESA spacecraft with fully autonomous capabilities, PROBA will test technology which may one day lead to fully automatic spacecraft. The PROBA (Project for on-board autonomy) satellite will operate virtually unaided using a computer system 50 times more powerful than ESA's full-size solar-observing satellite, Soho. The tiny satellite, developed through collaboration between ESA and Belgian contractor Verhaert Design and Development, will allow engineers to evaluate autonomous spacecraft operation by performing tasks such as navigation, payload and resource management with little involvement from ground staff. Images of the Earth and other data gathered by PROBA will be sent to a web server located at ESA's ground station in Redu, Belgium, where scientists will be able to access the information over the Internet as soon as it is delivered from the satellite. PROBA Project Manager Frederic Teston said: 'PROBA's multi-purpose capabilities are part of ESA's goal to promote technological missions using small spacecraft. The micro-satellite boasts a number of technology firsts, and has the ability to observe the same spot on Earth from a number of different directions.' In the first three months after launch, PROBA will be tested by Verhaert from the ground station in Redu. The satellite will then be handed over to ESA and the scientific user community. It is expected to operate for at least two years.