Proba-3 team inspecting the separation system before launch

Proba-3 team inspecting the separation system before launch. 

The two Proba-3 spacecraft were held together by a clamp-band, which is essentially a belt tightened around two metal rings, each attached to one spacecraft. Once the clamp was released, the two satellites started slowly drifting away from each other.

As the next step following separation, the flight control team will now make sure all systems on both spacecraft are running smoothly in preparation for the operational phase of the mission, due to begin in March 2025.