On March 6, 2025 at 1:24 p.m. local time in Kourou, French Guiana (4:24 p.m. UTC, 5:24 p.m. CET), Ariane 6, the new European heavy-lift launcher operated by Arianespace, lifted off from Europe’s Spaceport carrying 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 first commercial mission, Ariane 6 successfully placed CSO-3 into a sun-synchronous orbit (SSO) at an altitude of 800 km. Spacecraft separation occurred 1 hour and 6 minutes after lift-off.

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 the prime contractor, with Thales Alenia Space as the prime contractor for the VHR optical instrument.

David Cavaillolès, CEO of Arianespace, said: “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. 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.”

CNES CEO Lionel Suchet said, “I am delighted at the successful launch of the French defense satellite CSO-3 for CNES and the DGA. This launch success, Ariane 6’s first commercial mission, is excellent news in so many ways and demonstrates European and French excellence in space, to the benefit of our citizens. 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.

For this first commercial mission, the Ariane 6 vehicle was in the two-booster Ariane 62 configuration with a short fairing. Versatile and competitive, 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). As prime contractor and design authority for the launcher, ArianeGroup is responsible for development and production alongside its industrial partners. Ariane 6 is marketed and operated by Arianespace as of this first commercial flight.

The VA263 launch at a glance:

• 352nd launch by Arianespace
• 2nd Ariane 6 launch and 1st commercial flight
• 3rd CSO satellite was launched by Arianespace, thereby completing the CSO system
• 59th defense satellite launched by Arianespace
• 145th spacecraft built by Airbus Defence and Space launched by Arianespace

Click here to know more about Arianespace's  Ariane 6