The first operational mission of the Ariane 6 rocket took place in March 2025, placing the CSO-3 spy satellite into orbit for the French Armed Forces.
The first operational mission of Ariane 6 occurred in March 2025, carrying the CSO-3 spy satellite to orbit for the French Armed Forces.
The second commercial flight of Ariane 6 occurred on March 6, 2025, launching the French military satellite CSO-3.
The second commercial flight of Ariane 6 occurred on March 6, 2025, placing the French military satellite CSO-3 into orbit.
The first commercial flight of Ariane 6 carried the CSO-3 spy satellite for the French military.
CSO-3 was originally manifested to launch on Soyuz but was shifted to Ariane 6 after Russia halted Soyuz launches from French Guiana in 2022.
In March, an Ariane 6 launched the French CSO-3 reconnaissance satellite into low Earth orbit.
Ariane 6's first commercial flight launched the CSO-3 military observation satellite into orbit.
The CSO-3 military observation satellite was launched on behalf of the French Defense Procurement Agency (DGA) and the French space agency (CNES).
CSO-3 is the 46th satellite launched for the French Defense Procurement Agency (DGA) and CNES.
CSO-3 is the third CSO satellite launched by Arianespace and completes the CSO system.
With the launch of CSO-3, Ariane 6 guarantees France and Europe autonomous access to space.
Ariane 6 placed the CSO-3 satellite in sun-synchronous orbit at an altitude of around 800 km.
The A62 version of Ariane 6 lifted off from the Guiana Space Center on March 6, 2025, with the CSO-3 satellite.
CSO-3 is the third satellite in the MUSIS program, which is led by the DGA and is dedicated to Earth observation for defense and security purposes.
The planned second Ariane 6 launch in 2024 would carry the CSO-3 reconnaissance satellite for the French military.
The French government expected to launch its CSO-3 reconnaissance satellite on a Soyuz in early 2023.
Arianespace’s backlog currently includes 20 Airbus Defence and Space built satellites including CERES (x3), SYRACUSE 4B (COMSAT NG 2), EUTELSAT QUANTUM, METOP-SG A1, METOP-SG B1, THEOS-2, CSO 3, Pléiades Neo (x3), JUICE, Measat-3d, Biomass, EarthCARE, and CO3D (x4).
European public entities have purchased three Ariane 6 missions: two from the European Commission for Galileo navigation satellites and one from France for the CSO-3 military imaging satellite.