PROBA-V (Project for On-Board Autonomy - Vegetation)

 PROBA-V (Project for On-Board Autonomy -

 Vegetation)

The European Space Agency's (ESA) PROBA-V (Project for On-Board Autonomy - Vegetation) satellite is a miniaturized Earth observation satellite designed to monitor vegetation growth and land use changes on Earth. In this article, we will explore the key aspects of PROBA-V, including its history, objectives, technical specifications, cost, and achievements.

When was PROBA-V launched?

PROBA-V was launched on May 7, 2013, aboard a Vega rocket from the European Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana. It was launched along with two other payloads: the Vietnamese VNREDSat-1A satellite and the ESTCube-1, an Estonian CubeSat.

Why was PROBA-V launched?

PROBA-V was launched to continue the legacy of its predecessor, PROBA-1, which was launched in 2001. The mission's primary objective was to provide global coverage of land cover and vegetation growth patterns with high spatial resolution, as well as monitor land use changes on a daily basis.

PROBA-V was also designed to provide continuity of data from the Vegetation instrument, which had flown on board the SPOT-4 and SPOT-5 satellites. The Vegetation instrument was highly successful in monitoring vegetation growth, but the SPOT-5 satellite was decommissioned in 2015, leaving a gap in global vegetation monitoring.

How does PROBA-V work?

PROBA-V carries a Vegetation sensor that operates in the red, near-infrared, and mid-infrared spectral bands. The sensor can capture images with a spatial resolution of 100 meters, making it ideal for monitoring vegetation growth at a global scale.

The satellite orbits the Earth at an altitude of approximately 820 kilometers, with a sun-synchronous polar orbit. This means that the satellite passes over each point on Earth at the same local solar time, which is important for monitoring vegetation growth patterns.

PROBA-V also carries a Compact High Resolution Imaging Spectrometer (CHRIS) instrument, which provides hyperspectral imaging capabilities. The CHRIS instrument has 18 spectral bands, ranging from the visible to near-infrared wavelengths, and can capture images with a spatial resolution of 17 meters. The CHRIS instrument is primarily used for research and development purposes, as well as for monitoring specific land use changes, such as deforestation.

What did PROBA-V cost?

The total cost of the PROBA-V mission was approximately €75 million, which included the development, launch, and operations of the satellite. The satellite was developed by QinetiQ Space Belgium, with support from other European companies and institutions.

What are PROBA-V's achievements?

PROBA-V has been highly successful in achieving its primary objective of monitoring vegetation growth and land use changes on a daily basis. The satellite has been able to capture images of the entire Earth's land surface every two days, providing a wealth of data for researchers and policy makers.

The Vegetation sensor on board PROBA-V has been highly effective in monitoring vegetation growth, and has been used to study a range of ecological and environmental phenomena, such as deforestation, desertification, and urbanization.

PROBA-V has also been used in disaster management and response efforts, such as monitoring the impact of wildfires, floods, and droughts. The satellite has been able to provide valuable information to help emergency responders and aid organizations better understand the extent and severity of such events.

The CHRIS instrument on board PROBA-V has also been highly successful in providing hyperspectral imaging capabilities, and has been used for a range of research and development purposes, such as studying crop health and monitoring marine ecosystems.

Overall, PROBA-V has been a highly successful mission, providing valuable data for researchers, policy makers, and aid organizations. The mission has demonstrated the value of miniaturized Earth observation satellites, which can provide high-resolution imagery and data at a lower cost than larger satellites. This has opened up new opportunities for space-based monitoring and analysis of the Earth's ecosystems, which can help us better understand and manage the planet's natural resources.

PROBA-V has also demonstrated the importance of international collaboration in space exploration and research. The mission was developed by a consortium of European companies and institutions, and its data is freely available to researchers and users around the world. This has helped to foster collaboration and knowledge-sharing, and has enabled a wide range of applications and studies to be conducted using PROBA-V's data.

Looking ahead, PROBA-V is expected to continue operating until at least 2022, providing valuable data and insights into the Earth's vegetation and land use patterns. The mission has paved the way for future miniaturized Earth observation satellites, which are expected to play an increasingly important role in global monitoring and analysis efforts.