First Commercial Flight of Ariane 6 Launched
CSO-3 Earth Observation Satellite Successfully Placed in Orbit
Ariane 6, the new European heavy-lift launcher operated by Arianespace, lifted off from Europe’s Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana earlier today. The rocket carried the CSO-3 satellite on behalf of the French Defense Procurement Agency (DGA) and the French space agency (CNES), for the French Air and Space Force’s Space Command (CDE).
“With this success, Ariane confirms the return of autonomous access to space for Europe.”
Martin Sion, ArianeGroup
With this first commercial mission, Ariane 6 successfully placed CSO-3 into sun-synchronous orbit (SSO) at an altitude of 800 km. Spacecraft separation occurred 1 hour and 6 minutes after lift-off.
For this first commercial mission, the Ariane 6 vehicle was in the two-booster Ariane 62 configuration with a short fairing.
CSO-3 is the third satellite in the MUSIS (MUltinational Space-based Imaging System) program led by the DGA. This Earth observation system of three satellites is designed for defense and security purposes. They are equipped with the latest generation of optical sensors and guarantee the continuity of France’s optical Earth surveillance resources, transmitting very high resolution (VHR) images for France’s armed forces and its European partners. CSO-1 and CSO-2 were both successfully launched by Arianespace, in 2018 and 2020 respectively. Each satellite was developed by Airbus Defence and Space as prime contractor, with Thales Alenia Space prime contractor for the VHR optical instrument.
“The successful launch of CSO-3 is a great day for European space and marks the beginning of the Ariane 6’s commercial operation. With this further success, we are consolidating our independent access to space and helping to guarantee sovereignty on behalf of our citizens," said David Cavaillolès, CEO of Arianespace. "It is an honor for Arianespace to have delivered the entire CSO system to orbit and to have accompanied France and its European partners in this strategic mission. I thank the Ministry for the Armed Forces, Space Command, the French Defense Procurement Agency and CNES for their renewed confidence.”
“This launch success, Ariane 6’s first commercial mission, is excellent news in so many ways and clearly demonstrates European and French excellence in space, to the benefit of our citizens," said CNES CEO Lionel Suchet. "In orbiting of this third CSO satellite, CNES is providing the armed forces with operational support for the continuation of their space capabilities. I congratulate all the teams who worked to ensure the success of this launch, both in preparing the satellite and carrying out this first Ariane 6 commercial mission.”
“With this success, Ariane confirms the return of autonomous access to space for Europe. It demonstrates the quality of the industrial development of Europe’s new heavy-lift launcher. This success is the result of unique European industrial cooperation. I want to thank the Ministry of Armed Forces for its renewed confidence as well as all employees from ArianeGroup and its partners for their unwavering commitment,” said Martin Sion, CEO of ArianeGroup. "All our efforts are now focused on ramping up the Ariane 6 production."
Ariane 6 achieves a major production ramp up in order to meet the requirements of European institutional missions, as well as the growing needs of the commercial market.
Ariane 6 is a program developed within the framework of the European Space Agency (ESA).