Mission Success: Ariane 6 Launches And Deploys CSO-3 Satellite – Watch It Here!

Europe’s latest heavy-lift rocket, Ariane 6, successfully launched for the second time from Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana on 6 March at 13:24 local time (16:24 GMT). This mission, flight VA263, was the rocket’s first commercial operation, delivering the CSO-3 satellite into orbit.

Arianespace, which managed the launch for France’s Defence Procurement Agency (DGA) and space agency CNES, described the success as a key milestone for European space. “The successful launch of CSO-3 is a great day for European space and marks the beginning of Ariane 6’s commercial operation,” said Arianespace CEO David Cavaillolès. “With this further success, we are consolidating our independent access to space and helping to guarantee sovereignty on behalf of our citizens.”

Ariane 6 Launch: CSO-3 Reaches Orbit After Precision Flight

The launch proceeded flawlessly, with Ariane 6 executing all key phases as planned. Shortly after liftoff, the rocket’s two solid boosters separated, followed by the core stage. The upper stage engine, powered by the Vinci engine, ignited for the first time, placing the rocket in an elliptical orbit between 300 km and 600 km. After a 37-minute coasting phase, the engine fired again, moving the vehicle into its target trajectory.

One hour and six minutes after launch, the CSO-3 satellite separated from the rocket, reaching Sun-Synchronous Orbit at an altitude of around 800 km. This marks the completion of the CSO (Composante Spatiale Optique) system, an advanced Earth observation network for defence and security.

Martin Sion, CEO of ArianeGroup, highlighted the significance of the achievement. “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,” he said.

Ensuring Space Sustainability

Following the successful deployment of CSO-3, Ariane 6 performed a crucial final manoeuvre: the Auxiliary Propulsion Unit reignited, and the Vinci engine executed a third burn to guide the upper stage on a controlled reentry path. This ensured it would safely burn up in Earth’s atmosphere, preventing the build-up of space debris.

CSO-3 – Strengthening European Defence and Intelligence

Built by Airbus Defence and Space, with Thales Alenia Space providing the high-resolution optical imaging system, CSO-3 is the third and final satellite in France’s MUSIS (Multinational Space-based Imaging System) programme. The system provides intelligence and reconnaissance capabilities for the French armed forces and European partners.

Each CSO satellite serves a different function. While CSO-1 provides wide coverage, CSO-2, launched in 2020, operates at a lower altitude for high-resolution identification. CSO-3 enhances the system’s ability to revisit key areas more frequently, offering improved surveillance over large zones.

“CSO-3 is a perfect illustration of what Airbus and the French space industry can do for France and Europe,” said Alain Fauré, Head of Space Systems at Airbus. “It is also a great example of what Europe can do when teaming up.”

Ariane 6 – A Versatile Launcher for the Future

With this successful commercial debut, Ariane 6 has firmly established itself as Europe’s next-generation launcher, paving the way for future missions across defence, science, and commercial spaceflight.