The PROBA2 satellite on the hunt for solar eruptions

Abstract

PROBA2 is an ESA micro-satellite that is being prepared for launch in 2009. Its primary goal is the demonstration of new technologies in the space environment. Its secondary goal is the exploitation of its scientific payload. PROBA2 carries an ambitious suite of both in-situ and remote sensing instruments for monitoring space weather, despite the modest onboard resources inherent to a micro-satellite. Both the spacecraft and the remote sensing instruments are largely developed within Belgium. In this paper we briefly overview the spacecraft and its payload. We focus on how the PROBA2 mission connects to the Belgian space weather community and pay particular attention on the detector technology demonstrated onboard PROBA2.status: publishe