Composante Spatiale Optique
Composante Spatiale Optique ( CSO ) is the name of a French program of optical reconnaissance satellites . It is intended as a successor system for the Helios satellites . A total of three CSO satellites are to be operated.
background
Since the Helios 1A satellite was launched in 1995, France has developed a number of military reconnaissance satellites. Due to the limited lifespan of satellites, a new program was launched to replace the existing Helios 2A mission. Initially planned as a French contribution to the European Musis program, it became a purely French program after it was discontinued.
The DGA , the procurement organization of the French military, commissioned Airbus Defense and Space to build the satellites and the ground segment; Thales Alenia Space provides the optical payload.
In contrast to the Helios satellites, which use the same satellite bus as the SPOT satellites , CSO uses technology from the Pléiades satellites. CSO was planned as a system of two satellites that can be expanded to three if European partners are interested. The Switzerland would presumably on the espionage system participate.
Satellites
As of September 4, 2019
| satellite | Start date ( UTC ) | Launch site | Launcher | COSPAR ID |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CSO 1 | 19th December 2018 | CSG ELS | Soyuz-ST / Fregat-M | 2018-106A |
| CSO 2 | 2020 (planned) | CSG ELS | Soyuz-ST / Fregat-M | |
| CSO 3 | 2021 (planned) | CSG ELA-4 | Ariane 62 |
The start of CSO 1 was originally planned for 2017.
Web links
- CSO 1, 2, 3 on Gunter's Space Page
Individual evidence
- ^ French Defense Budget 2013 ( French ) Accessed July 26, 2015.
- ↑ Lancement de la réalisation des satellites CSO du program musis. Direction générale de l'armement, March 31, 2015, accessed on July 26, 2015 (French).
- ↑ Participation in France's espionage system. In: bluewin.ch . September 4, 2019, accessed September 4, 2019 .
- ↑ Update: Soyuz start in Kourou successful. In: Flight Revue. December 20, 2018, accessed September 4, 2019 .
- ↑ Planning of the French military for 2014-2019. Retrieved July 26, 2015 (French).