Europe's Ariane 6 Successfully Deploys French Spy Satellite into Orbit.
Science and Technology
In March 2025, Arianespace SA successfully launched the CSO (Optical Space Component)-3 reconnaissance satellite for the French Armed Forces aboard Europe’s next-generation heavy-lift rocket, Ariane 6, from the Guiana Space Centre in Kourou, French Guiana, France. This mission marks Europe's first successful commercial launch, representing a significant milestone in European space exploration.
- The Ariane 6 upper stage safely re-entered Earth's atmosphere in a controlled manner, addressing issues observed during its test flight in July 2024.
- Ariane 6 is developed by Paris (France)-based ArianeGroup, a joint venture co-owned by Airbus and Safran. Its high-definition optical instrument was built by Franco-Italian company Thales Alenia Space (TAS), which is controlled by Thales and Leonardo.
- Ariane 6, in its Ariane 62 configuration, with a core stage, two P120C boosters, and a Vulcain 2.1 engine, successfully launched the 3,600 kg CSO-3 satellite into a Sun-Synchronous Orbit (550) at an altitude of 800 km (500 miles).
Main Point :- (i) Ariane 6 is available in two configurations, Ariane 62 and 64, offering flexibility for various mission needs. It is designed to be cost-efficient, providing a competitive alternative to SpaceX’s Falcon 9 in the global market.
(ii) CSO, which stands for "Composante Spatiale Optique," is France’s military satellite program designed to provide high-resolution optical imagery for defense and intelligence purposes.
(iii) The CSO constellation includes three satellites: CSO-1 (2018), CSO-2 (2020), and CSO-3. The program is supported by the French Defence Procurement and Technology Agency (DGA) and CNES, France's space agency.
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