KSAT LEOP support on the launch of PROBA-2

Monday 2nd of November 2009 at 01:50:52UT, the two new ESA (European Space Agency) satellites SMOS (Surface Moisture and Ocean Salinity) and PROBA-2 (Project for On-Board Autonomy) was successfully launched from the launch site in Pletsetsk, Russia. KSAT supported the LEOP (Launch and Early Orbit Phase) for PROBA-2, ESAs successor mission for technology demonstration. The purpose of PROBA-2 is in general to demonstrate automatic functions, both in the satellite and in the ground segment.

The ESOC coordinated PROBA-2 LEOP was supported with the SG6 antenna on SvalSat, together with the ESOC antennas in Redu and Kiruna. The LEOP period lasted over the 10 first orbit and turned over to a 90 days commissioning phase followed by 2 year routine operations, where KSAT also will play a key role.

More info on esa.int

Proba-2 fact sheet