The first example of three Composante Spatiale Optique (CSO) high-resolution military reconnaissance satellites for France was launched on 19 December 2018 by an Arianespace-operated Soyuz ST-A (Fregat M). The 3,565kg CSO-1 satellite built by Airbus Space and Defence (Airbus DS) was launched into an 800km Sun-synchronous near polar circular orbit at 1637GMT from the Sinnamary launch site located close to the main Kourou launch base on the coast of French Guiana.
The classified optical/infra-red imaging payload was built by Thales Alenia Space and is reported to be capable of resolutions of 0.35m.
Soyuz ST-A (Fregat M) launches the CSO-1 reconnaissance satellite. Courtesy: CNES
