Proba-2, the smallest satellite built by the European Space Agency (ESA) to date, has successfully reached the Plesetsk Cosmodrome for launch on 2 November 2009.

The Proba satellites are part of ESA’s in-orbit technology demonstration programme, a mission through which innovative technologies are demonstrated.

The Proba series has been created to increase the availability of flight-testing opportunities in space.

As a result, the 1m³ satellite will carry 17 new technology developments and four scientific experiments focused on solar and space weather observations.

Proba-2 is a mission of ESA’s general support technology programme (GSTP), that will carry forward Proba-1 mission that has been in orbit for eight years.

The rocket carrying ESA’s larger soil moisture and ocean salinity (SMOS) earth explorer satellite will carry this smaller payload to its orbit.

The satellite has begun undergoing an integration process after its arrival in preparation for its launch in November.