Ariane 6, in its A62 version (two boosters), lifted off from the Guiana Space Center, on March 6, 2025, with the CSO-3 satellite under its fairing. This mission, designated VA263 and operated by Arianespace, was the first commercial flight of the new European heavy-lift launcher. Ariane 6 placed its passenger in sun-synchronous orbit at an altitude of around 800 km. Spacecraft separation occurred 1 hour and 6 minutes after lift-off.

Focus on passenger, CSO-3

This military observation satellite was launched 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). CSO-3, the 3rd CSO (optical space component) satellite launched by Arianespace, completes the CSO system. With this latest successful launch, Ariane 6 has guaranteed France and Europe autonomous access to space, in support of French defense and the capability needs of several partner countries.

CSO-3 is the third satellite in the MUSIS program, led by the DGA: a constellation of three satellites dedicated to Earth observation for defense and security purposes. The CSO-1 and CSO-2 satellites were successfully launched by Arianespace in 2018 and 2020 respectively.