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.

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

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

Updated November 25, 2024