The Ariane 6 rocket launched successfully from French Guiana on its first operational flight, deploying the CSO-3 reconnaissance satellite for the French military. This 184-foot rocket, equipped with solid-fueled boosters and a hydrogen core, executed a flawless ascent, shedding components as planned. This launch is critical as it reinstates Europe’s independent access to space, a significant milestone for Arianespace and the European space industry, according to CEO David Cavaillolès. The mission reinforces France’s capabilities in military satellite surveillance, enhancing intelligence operations across the continent.
"This is an absolute pleasure for me today to announce that Ariane 6 has successfully placed into orbit the CSO-3 satellite," said David Cavaillolès, who took over in January as CEO of Arianespace.
"Today, here in Kourou, we can say that thanks to Ariane 6, Europe and France have their own autonomous access to space back, and this is great news."
The rocket shed its strap-on boosters a little more than two minutes into the flight, then jettisoned its core stage nearly eight minutes after liftoff.
The Ariane 6 upper stage deployed CSO-3, a sharp-eyed French military spy satellite, to begin a mission providing optical surveillance imagery to French intelligence agencies.
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