CSO-3

Mission

CSO-3 on Ariane 62. Thu 6 Mar 2025, 16:24:26 UTC. Reported outcome: Success. Launch site: Ariane Launch Area 4. Source: Launch Library 2.

The CSO-3 (Composante Spatiale Optique-3 satellite is the third of three new-generation high-resolution optical imaging satellites for the French military, replacing the Helios 2 spy satellite series.

Mission type

Government/Top Secret

Orbit

Sun-Synchronous Orbit

Launch timeline

Times are relative to liftoff.

1. T-7 sThu 6 Mar, 17:24 CET

   Ignition

   Start of the engine ignition sequence

2. T-0Thu 6 Mar, 17:24 CET

   Liftoff

   First upwards movement of the rocket

3. T+2 min 18 sThu 6 Mar, 17:26 CET

   SRB Separation

   The solid rocket boosters are separated from the launcher.

4. T+4 min 30 sThu 6 Mar, 17:28 CET

   Fairing Separation

   Separation of the payload fairing

5. T+7 min 46 sThu 6 Mar, 17:32 CET

   Stage 2 Separation

   Separation of the second stage from the first

6. T+7 min 54 sThu 6 Mar, 17:32 CET

   SES-1

   First start of the second engine

7. T+56 min 21 sThu 6 Mar, 18:20 CET

   SES-2

   Second start of the second engine

8. T+1 h 6 minThu 6 Mar, 18:30 CET

   Payload Separation

   Final deployment of the payload from the rocket

9. T+2 hThu 6 Mar, 19:24 CET

   SES-3

   Third start of the second engine

Slip history

Changes recorded by Space Right Now

No changes since we started tracking on Sat 10 Oct 2026, 11:14 UTC.

Launch pad

Ariane Launch Area 4

Guiana Space Centre, French Guiana (GF)

Coordinates: 5.256319, -52.786838