The CSO-1 and CSO-2 satellites were successfully launched by Arianespace in 2018 and 2020 respectively.
The launched satellites are part of CSO-2, the second of the three-satellite CSO (Composante spatiale optique) constellation.
CSO-2 was the 130th Airbus Defence and Space-built satellite launched by Arianespace.
CSO-2 carries an imaging payload provided by Thales Alenia Space that delivers high-resolution images at optical and infrared wavelengths for daytime and nighttime observations.
CSO-2 will operate in a 480-kilometer orbit to produce higher-resolution images for an identification mission.
Arianespace launched the Soyuz vehicle on 2020-12-29 to deliver the French CSO-2 Earth observation satellite into Sun-synchronous orbit.
CSO-2 is the second of three satellites in the CSO system, following CSO-1 which launched in December 2018.
Arianespace and its Starsem affiliate launched a Soyuz from Vostochny Cosmodrome 11 days before the CSO-2 mission to deliver 36 OneWeb satellites.
A Soyuz ST-A rocket launched the French Composante Spatiale Optique 2 (CSO-2) reconnaissance satellite on 2020-12-29.
CSO-2 was built by Airbus Space and Defence for the French military.