Arianespace Flight VA263 Postponed
Further Operations Needed on the Ground
Due to further operations needed on a ground facility, the Arianespace VA263 launch initially planned on February 26 from Kourou, French Guiana, is postponed.
The new launch date will be announced following the completion of these operations. Ariane 6 and its passenger, the CSO-3 satellite, are in stable and safe conditions.
CSO-3 is the third satellite in the DGA-led MUSIS program (Multinational Space-based Imaging System), a constellation of three satellites dedicated to Earth observation for defense and security purposes. CSO-1 and CSO-2 were both successfully launched by Arianespace, respectively in 2018 and 2020.
When it does launch, VA263, will be the first commercial flight for Ariane 6, the new European heavy-lift launcher. The CSO-3 satellite will be placed into Sun-Synchronous Orbit (SSO) at an altitude of around 800 km (≈450 miles). Spacecraft separation will occur 1 hour and 6 minutes after lift-off.