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Launch Success
Liftoff Time (GMT)
10:34:00
Thursday December 5, 2024
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PROBA-3 composes of two independent, three-axis stabilized spacecraft flying 150 meters from one another with the ability to accurately control the attitude and separation of the two craft. It will be maintained for 6 hours, creating ″artificial solar eclipse″ for the satellite below. The spacecraft pair will fly a highly elliptical orbit divided between periods of accurate formation flying around apogee, when payload operations will be possible, and periods of free flight. The length of the formation control period will be a trade-off involving the increasing amount of fuel needed to maintain the orbits in formation when away from apogee.
Elliptical
2 Payloads
550 kilograms
61st
Mission
2nd
Mission of 2024
95th
Mission
4th
Mission of 2024
236th
Orbital launch attempt