IN-FLIGHT PERFORMANCE OF THE SOLAR UV RADIOMETER LYRA / PROBA-2

LYRA is a solar radiometer, part of the PROBA-2 micro-satellite payload. The PROBA-2 mission has been launched on 02 November 2009 with a Rockot launcher to a Sun-synchronous orbit at an altitude of 725 km. Its nominal operation duration is two years with possible extension of 2 years. LYRA monitors the solar irradiance at a high cadence (> 20Hz) in four soft X-Ray to VUV large passbands: the “Lyman-Alpha” channel, the “Herzberg” continuum range, the “Aluminium” and “Zirconium” filter channels. The radiometric calibration is traceable to synchrotron source standards. LYRA benefits from wide bandgap detectors based on diamond. It is the first space assessment of these revolutionary UV detectors for astrophysics.