Arianespace successfully launched Airbus Defence and Space's CO3D satellites, as well as the CNES's MicroCarb satellite, on Friday July 25th, 2025, at 11:03 p.m. local time (02:03 a.m. UTC, 04:03 a.m. CEST, on July 26th, 2025). This mission, called “VV27” was performed using an Arianespace-operated Vega C rocket, launched from Europe's Spaceport in French Guiana.
The main passengers, the four satellites composing the CO3D constellation, were placed into Sun-synchronous orbit at an altitude of 495 km and were separated two by two 54 minutes after lift-off. The auxiliary passenger, MicroCarb, was placed in a Sun-synchronous orbit at an altitude of 650 km and separated 1 hour and 41 minutes after lift-off.
David Cavaillolès, Arianespace CEO, declared, "VV27 is a great example of what our teams do best: delivering complex missions with precision. Vega C successfully placed five satellites into two different orbits, the four satellites composing the CO3D constellation and MicroCarb. This mission shows once again how Arianespace contributes to Europe's autonomous access to space and supports Airbus and the CNES in launching innovative missions furthering our understanding of the Earth."
Designed and built by Airbus, the CO3D (Constellation Optique 3D) satellites will deliver a global high-resolution Digital Surface Model (DSM) service to CNES, providing 50 cm stereo imagery as well as 2D imagery for government and commercial customers. A partnership between Airbus and the CNES, CO3D comprises four dual-use satellites, each based on all-electric platforms and weighing around 285kg. This data will feed a cloud-based ground segment operated by Airbus, including an image processing chain delivered by CNES. This data will answer both the military's need for precise and up-to-date cartography as well as civil applications such as hydrology, geology, civil security, urban planning, and land and resource management.
The CNES' MicroCarb mission is designed to map sources and sinks of carbon dioxide (CO2), the most important greenhouse gas, on a global scale. The satellite's dispersive spectrometer instrument will measure the atmospheric concentration of CO2 globally with a high degree of precision. MicroCarb's platform is based on the latest CNES Myriade model. Its instrument was built by Airbus Defence and Space, and the integration was realized by Thales Alenia Space UK through a dedicated partnership implemented with the UK Space Agency.
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