Proba-3: Road to Launch

The European Space Agency’s (ESA) PROBA-3 mission, the world’s first precision formation flying mission, is set to launch later this year. Composed of two spacecraft that will act as one, PROBA-3 will study the sun corona, a dynamic region of the sun with the largest influence on Earth through events solar flares or mass ejections. Proba-3 will also demonstrate formation flying technologies and rendezvous experiments for future science, astronomy and Earth observation missions.

Redwire is proud to be an integral part of the Proba-3 team. Redwire’s facility in Belgium was responsible for spacecraft integration and testing. Redwire also provided the spacecraft’s onboard computer, which will act as the “brain” of the mission. One of the technology demonstration payloads, the 3D Energetic Electron Spectrometer (3DEES), a high-fidelity 3D energetic electron spectrometer, was also developed by Redwire.

Following successful spacecraft integration at Redwire’s Belgium facility, the Redwire Operations team completed successful testing of both spacecraft and subunits. Following successful testing and delivery, the spacecraft must complete the rest of their journey to launch. Proba-3 will be launched by the PSLV-XL launcher of the Indian Space Research Organisation, ISRO.

To celebrate this exciting mission, Redwire is documenting Proba-3’s journey to the launchpad, and beyond, with the help of the Redwire team on the ground. Below are the latest updates from Proba-3’s road to launch.

Update 1: The Journey Begins: Leaving Redwire and Arriving in India

Ahead of leaving Redwire’s facility, the Redwire team packed up the spacecraft and prepared them for their flight to India.

 

On October 31, Proba-3 departed Redwire’s facilities for its flight to the Satish Dhawan Space Centre, near Chennai, for pre-launch testing and integration with the rocket.  The Redwire team assisted with further preparations for flight at the airport. On November 4, spacecraft were loaded onto a plane and departed for India.

The Proba-3 spacecraft are loaded on to the airplane for their flight to India. Credit: Redwire

After a successful flight, the Proba-3 spacecraft and Redwire team arrived safely in India, where the next leg of their journey began.

Proba-3 Arrives in India. Credit: Redwire

Once the spacecraft were loaded off the plane, they were secured to vehicles for their 12-hour road trip to the Satish Dhawan Space CentreOnce at the launch site, pre-launch testing will begin. 

Lars Weinhold, AIV Systems Engineer at Redwire, supervising the Proba-3 containers on their way to the launch site. Credit: Redwire

Update 2: Arriving to the Launch Site and Functional Testing Successfully Completed

On November 7, the spacecraft arrived to SHAR. The spacecraft containers were offloaded and unpacked. Following the unpacking of the spacecraft, the team began setting up for functional tests to ensure the spacecraft were healthy after their trip from Belgium.

On November 8, ESA confirmed that the full functional tests on both spacecraft were successful. All units were found to be fundamentally healthy following shipment, receiving telecommands and sending expected telemetry.

Hear more about these tests from Marie Beeckman, Redwire’s Test and Operations Engineer for Proba-3:

Next up for Proba-3 is transport to the fueling hall.

Check back here and follow Redwire on social media for the latest Proba-3 updates.

Update 3: Standalone Testing Completed and Spacecraft Instruments Aligned

On November 12, ESA reported that the team had successfully completed all standalone testing in the SP-1B facility.

Members of the Redwire Proba-3 team after standalone testing in SP-1B facility was completed. Credit: ESA

The Proba-3 spacecraft were packed up and moved to the SP2B fueling hall. There, the spacecraft underwent a fit check with the launcher payload adapter.

Following standalone testing, the Redwire team packed up the Proba-3 spacecraft to be moved to the fueling hall. Credit: ESA

For the fit check, the spacecraft was lowered onto the adapter. The clampband, which is used to hold the spacecraft and adapter together, was installed. The umbilical cables, which enable monitoring of the spacecraft during fueling and launch, were also installed and tested.

Proba-3’s coronagraph spacecraft undergoing a fit check with the launcher adapter. Credit: ESA

The fit check confirmed that the spacecraft fit onto the adapter correctly, a crucial step before spacecraft fueling can begin. Next up for the spacecraft is the leak test, fueling, and stacking.

Check back here and follow Redwire on social media for the latest Proba-3 updates.

Update 4: Fueled, Activated, and Stacked

Last week, Proba-3 moved closer to its launch on December 4, 2024 after successfully completing key testing and spacecraft preparation milestones.

Following the move to SP2B fueling hall, the two spacecraft underwent successful propulsion leak testing of the Coronagraph spacecraft and fueling of the Occulter spacecraft. The Redwire team was on the ground to assist with monitoring temperature and pressure of the spacecraft throughout the process.

Caption: The Proba-3 satellites undergoing ongoing pressurization activities at SHAR. Credit: ESA

Following the leak test, the Proba-3 satellites were put into flight configuration. This exciting milestone, led by the Redwire team, was a crucial pre-launch activity. The satellites were activated one last time on Earth, receiving the final onboard software, which controls the functionalities of the satellite platform. The software is run on Redwire’s ADPMS, the satellites’ onboard computer. ADPMS is the “brain” of the mission, responsible for monitoring and controlling other spacecraft components, including transmitting critical data to operators on the ground, along with all vital spacecraft operations, including power and navigation. Redwire’s onboard computer recently launched as part of ESA’s flagship planetary defense mission, Hera.

With the final preparation activities complete, the satellites were successfully stacked on top each other on November 21.

Caption: The Proba-3 Satellites were successfully stacked ahead of hydrazine fueling. Credit: ESA

Meanwhile, at the Proba-3 Mission Operation Center (MOC) in Redu, a simulation between ESA Space Debris Office and MOC tested Proba-3’s ability to respond to a potential collision with space debris. The exercise successfully tested and validated the spacecraft interfaces and procedures.

Following successful configuration and stacking, the satellites were ready for fueling of the CSC with hydrazine. After successful fueling, the CSC underwent pressurization and the satellited were handed over to launch authority. The satellites are now ready to be integrated with the launcher and another step closer to launch on December 4.

Caption: After successful fueling, the CSC underwent pressurization and handover to launch authority. Credit: ESA

Curious about previous Proba-3 pre-launch activities? Check out the ESA blog post written by Akos Haasz, Redwire Proba-3 Program Manager, here.  

Update 5: Handover, Final Launch Preparations, and Media Briefings

On November 26, ESA reported that Proba-3 was enclosed in its transport container and moved to the launch pad ahead of schedule due to weather. Once cleanroom conditions were optimal, the lid of the container was opened and the satellites were mated to the launcher.

Proba-3 mated to the launcher Credit: ESA

Redwire’s team is now divided in between India and Belgium. The Operations Team is in Belgium as they prepare to operate the satellites once they are in space. The team is working from ESA’s European Space Security and Education Center in Redu, doing the final dry runs of the launch and early operations.

 

Redwire Operations Team at the European Space Security and Education Center in Redu

The team that remained in India will oversee opening the latch valves of the coronograph satellite just before launch and monitoring the battery voltage, tank pressure, and temperature. Ruwan Ernst, Redwire’s Proba-3 Lead Systems Engineer, will give the GO/NO GO for launch according to the status of the mentioned parameters.

As one of the Proba-3 partners, Redwire was part of the ESA Proba-3 media briefing on November 28. The briefing included Frank Preud’homme, Redwire Sales and Business Development Director, who spoke alongside ESA and other industry leaders to discuss the importance of the mission.  You can watch the media briefing in English here.

Redwire Sales and Development Director Frank Preud’homme during the ESA media briefing on November 28.

On November 29, ESA reported that Proba-3 was successfully encapsulated in the payload fairing. With this latest milestone reached, Proba-3 has moved ever-closer to its December 4 launch date. It’s now ready for charging, the launch rehearsal, and latch valve opening. 

Getting excited for launch? Join Redwire and Sener for a prelaunch media briefing on December 4th right before liftoff. Participants will get the chance to hear from Proba-3 experts about this exciting mission and the upcoming milestones to look out for. Learn more here. 

Update 6: Dress Rehearsal Complete and Go for Launch

Following a successful two-day dress rehearsal, mission control has given Proba-3 the GO for launch. The dress rehearsal tested and validated the different parts of the launch and early orbit phase of the satellite and successfully simulated the final countdown and launch sequence.

With less than 24 hours to go before launch, the Redwire teams is on the ground in India and the mission control room at ESA’s ESEC in Redu, Belgium to support operations for the world’s first formation precision flying mission.

The Redwire team in the mission control room at ESA’s ESEC in Redu, Belgium approximately 24 hours before the launch of Proba-3.

Don’t miss Redwire and Sener’s prelaunch broadcast at 10:00-11:00 a.m. CET, 4:00-5:00 a.m. ET. Viewers will have a chance to hear from mission experts discussing how the Proba-3 dual satellites were developed, along with the important science and technical objectives of the mission. The broadcast will be streamed via will be available through Sener’s official corporate YouTube channel.

Next up: Launch!

Update 7: Liftoff!

Proba-3 successfully launched from India at 11:34 CET. A few minutes after liftoff, the Proba-3 spacecraft successfully separated from the launcher. The operation teams, led by Redwire from ESA’s European Space Security and Education Center in Redu, Belgium, began sending commands to check the status of the satellites. A couple of minutes after separation from the launcher, acquisition of signal (AOS) was confirmed: Proba-3 said hi from space! The operations team was able to see that all systems were healthy.

The operations team at the mission control room composed by Redwire, ESA, and Sener members at ESA’s ESEC in Redu, Belgium to support Proba-3 operations.

The operations team then began operations to point the satellites towards the sun. Soon after, solar panel deployment was confirmed.

On Saturday, exactly 48h after launch, the mission control team reviewed the spacecraft status announced that they had achieved all goals declared the end of launch and early operations phase (LEOP). Redwire’s on board computer ADPMS-2 is also reported to be controlling both satellites perfectly. The teams are now confident in the stability of the system.

Led by Redwire’s Pieter Verbist, the commissioning team supported the launch from a room adjacent to mission control, providing specific inputs when needed.

Pieter Verbist and the LEOP expert team

Proba-3 is now on its journey to study the Sun’s corona. The pair of spacecraft is currently attached, and they will remain so throughout the initial commissioning phase of the mission, until January.

Want to learn more about Proba-3? Check out Redwire’s Proba-3 Mission page here.

Updated December 10, 2024

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