ESA Plans Launch Of Proba-2 Microsatellite For Early 2006

The European Space Agency‘s second microsatellite, Proba-2, is expected to be ready for launch early in 2006. Proba-2, a similar satellite to the Proba-1 spacecraft launched in October 2001, will be no larger than a washing machine and will weigh only 100 kilograms (220.5 pounds). While Proba-1 carries a miniaturized camera to observe the Earth at many selectable wavelengths of light, Proba-2 will monitor the sun. The main instrument, called SWAP, will make detailed images of the solar atmosphere once a minute, by the light of very energetic ultraviolet rays, ESA officials said.