Proba-3

QinetiQ has secured a €16m contract to provide computer and avionics for the European Space Agency’s (ESA) Proba-3 mission.

Under the contract, QinetiQ’s team in Belgium will develop compact avionics systems in three years, to process millions of instructions per second in high-radiation space environment.

QinetiQ space division business development manager Davy Vrancken said: "Through our work on the previous Proba missions and other similar projects, we have established an enviable track record in delivering control systems for small satellites.

"The mission demonstrates the importance of formation flying for the future of scientific research."

"The mission demonstrates the importance of formation flying for the future of scientific research."

Proba-3 mission comprises two small satellites, which will be mounted on top of the other for launch.

QinetiQ will test the satellites before the mechanical connection between them separates.

In general, the distance between two satellites will be several kilometres but the new spacecraft will stay around 150m apart during formation flying manoeuvres.

Using an ‘eclipsing’ mechanism, Proba-3 will study the sun’s corona. A camera will be installed on one satellite and a sun occulting disk on the other.

QinetiQ’s space business operates in the UK and Belgium, and has so far developed communication systems, electric propulsion, onboard computers and lightweight telescopes for the ESA, Nasa and the UK Space Agency.

Image: Proba-3’s pair of satellites. Photo: courtesy of ESA.