Composante_Spatiale_Optique

Composante Spatiale Optique

Composante Spatiale Optique

French military Earth observation satellite program

Composante Spatiale Optique (CSO; English: Optical Space Component) is a French military Earth observation satellite program of third generation. It replaces the Helios 2 satellites. It is sometimes referred to as the MUltinational Space-based Imaging System for Surveillance, Reconnaissance and Observation (MUSIS program).

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Program history

Since the launch of Helios 1A in 1995, France has developed a series of military Earth observation programs. Due to the limited lifetime of satellites, a program was launched to replace the currently operational Helios 2 satellites. This program started as a French contribution to the larger pan-European MUSIS program, and eventually became a mostly French program.[1] An agreement between France and Germany was reached in April 2015, under which Germany contributes €200 million to building a third satellite, and in exchange receives access rights to the imagery.[2][3] Sweden and Belgium are also a program partners, which enables the use of a polar ground station.[4][5]

Technical capabilities

Unlike the Helios satellites, which used the same bus as the Spot satellites, CSO uses technology derived from the Pléiades satellites. It is much heavier than Pléiades with a mass of 3650 kg.[6] They are made out of 3 identical satellites. The first one was launched in December 2018, and provide Very High Resolution imagery - like the Helios 2 satellites,[7] so around 35 cm [8] from an 800 km orbit.[9] The second satellite provides Extremely High Resolution imagery - around 20 cm - from a 480 km orbit.[6] The third satellite will be launched in 2023 and provide increased revisit capabilities.[10][11] The satellites have the ability to take infrared images.[12] The satellite manufacturing was awarded to Airbus Defence and Space, while the optical payload is built by Thales Alenia Space.[13]

The CSO system is able to produce at least 280 images a day on average.[4][14]

The program cost is estimated at €1.3 billion,[1] with an additional €300 million for the ground segment and 10 years of operations.[15] The marginal cost of the third satellite is €300 million.[2]

References

  1. [1]
    (in French) French Finance Law for 2013 : Defence : Equipment
  2. [2]
    (in French) Opex360.com article
  3. [3]
    SpaceNews article
  4. [4]
    (in French) Hearing of the French Space Command Chief by the National Assembly
  5. [5]
    "CSO-1 L'ESPACE AU SERVICE DE LA DÉFENSE". CNES. 7 February 2019. Retrieved 11 October 2020.(in French)
  6. [6]
    page on CSO on the CNES website
  7. [7]
    (in French) Hearing on the Director of Military Intelligence at the French National Assembly
  8. [8]
    SpaceNews article on Helios II B
  9. [9]
    (in French) French Military Planning Law for 2014-2019
  10. [10]
    Lagneau, Laurent (4 March 2022). "Faute de lanceur Soyouz, la mise sur orbite du satellite militaire français CSO-3 sera retardée d'un an" [In the absence of a Soyuz launcher, the orbital insertion of the French military satellite CSO-3 will be delayed by a year]. Opex360 (in French). Retrieved 7 March 2022.
  11. [11]
    (in French) Article on Musis on the French Ministry of Defense website
  12. [12]
    Sofradir wins military satellite IR detector contract
  13. [13]
    "Lancement de la réalisation des satellites CSO du programme Musis". Direction générale de l'armement. 28 June 2010. Retrieved 13 November 2013.(in French)
  14. [14]
    (in French) Article mentioning Pléiades programming rights
  15. [15]
    (in French) Press release from the DGA
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