# Cerise

> French military reconnaissance satellite

**Wikidata**: [Q2946685](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q2946685)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cerise_(satellite))  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/cerise

## Summary  
Cerise is a French military reconnaissance satellite launched on 7 July 1995 aboard an Ariane 40 rocket. Weighing only 50 kg and built on the SSTL‑70 bus, it operated in a sun‑synchronous orbit to collect covert intelligence data. In 1996 Cerise became one of the first known satellites to be damaged by space‑debris, colliding with fragments of an Ariane 1 rocket body.

## Key Facts  
- **Launch date:** 7 July 1995 (16:23:34 UTC) from ELA‑2, Kourou, aboard Ariane 40 V75.  
- **Mass:** 50 kg.  
- **Operator:** France’s Direction générale de l'Armement (DGA) and Alcatel.  
- **Manufacturer:** Alcatel Espace (overall) with Surrey Satellite Technology providing the SSTL‑70 spacecraft bus.  
- **Orbit:** Sun‑synchronous orbit (SSO) around the Earth.  
- **COSPAR ID / NSSDC ID:** 1995‑033B.  
- **Space tug:** H10‑3 (launch stage) – serial L447.  
- **Collision:** On 24 July 1996 the satellite was struck by debris from an Ariane 1 rocket body, marking a notable early case of space‑debris impact.  
- **Purpose:** Covert collection of radio‑electric environment data for military intelligence (reconnaissance satellite).  

## FAQs  
### Q: What was the primary mission of Cerise?  
A: Cerise was designed as a French military reconnaissance satellite to covertly gather radio‑electric and other intelligence data from orbit.  

### Q: When and how was Cerise launched?  
A: It launched on 7 July 1995 at 16:23:34 UTC from the ELA‑2 pad in Kourou, using an Ariane 40 launch vehicle (flight V75).  

### Q: Did Cerise experience any notable incidents in space?  
A: Yes, on 24 July 1996 Cerise collided with debris from an Ariane 1 rocket body, becoming one of the earliest documented cases of a satellite being damaged by space debris.  

### Q: Who built and operated Cerise?  
A: The satellite was built by Alcatel Espace with the SSTL‑70 bus supplied by Surrey Satellite Technology, and it was operated jointly by France’s Direction générale de l'Armement and Alcatel.  

### Q: What orbit did Cerise occupy?  
A: Cerise operated in a sun‑synchronous orbit, allowing consistent lighting conditions for its reconnaissance payload.  

## Why It Matters  
Cerise illustrates the strategic value of small, low‑mass satellites for national security, demonstrating that effective reconnaissance can be achieved without the expense of large platforms. Its use of the SSTL‑70 bus and collaboration between French defense agencies and commercial aerospace firms highlighted a shift toward modular, cost‑efficient satellite design in the mid‑1990s. The 1996 collision with Ariane 1 debris provided an early, high‑profile example of the growing space‑debris hazard, influencing subsequent debris‑mitigation policies and prompting the aerospace community to develop better tracking and shielding techniques. By combining advanced intelligence gathering with pioneering small‑sat technology, Cerise helped shape modern military satellite concepts and underscored the importance of safeguarding orbital assets from debris.  

## Notable For  
- First French military microsatellite to employ the SSTL‑70 bus.  
- One of the earliest recorded cases of a satellite being damaged by space debris (1996 collision).  
- Launched on the Ariane 40 V75, showcasing the versatility of the Ariane 4 family for small payloads.  
- Dual operation by a national defense agency (DGA) and a commercial entity (Alcatel).  
- Demonstrated successful low‑mass (50 kg) reconnaissance capability in a sun‑synchronous orbit.  

## Body  

### Overview  
Cerise (French for “cherry”) is classified as a reconnaissance satellite, tasked with covert data collection for French military intelligence. Its official description on Wikidata lists it as a “French military reconnaissance satellite.”  

### Mission and Design  
- **Purpose:** Characterisation of the radio‑electric environment via an embedded spatial instrument.  
- **Spacecraft bus:** SSTL‑70, supplied by Surrey Satellite Technology, providing a compact, modular platform.  
- **Mass:** 50 kg, enabling launch on a medium‑class Ariane 40 vehicle.  

### Launch Details  
- **Date & Time:** 7 July 1995, 16:23:34 UTC.  
- **Launch Site:** ELA‑2 at the Guiana Space Centre, Kourou.  
- **Vehicle:** Ariane 40, flight designation V75, with the H10‑3 upper stage (serial L447) as the space tug.  

### Orbit and Operations  
- **Orbit type:** Sun‑synchronous orbit, providing consistent illumination for the payload.  
- **Operator:** Direction générale de l'Armement (French defense procurement agency) together with Alcatel.  

### Collision Event  
- **Date:** 24 July 1996.  
- **Debris source:** Fragments from an Ariane 1 rocket body.  
- **Impact:** The collision caused damage to Cerise, marking a significant early example of the space‑debris problem and prompting research into mitigation strategies.  

### Technical Specifications  
| Parameter | Value |
|-----------|-------|
| COSPAR ID / NSSDC ID | 1995‑033B |
| Mass | 50 kg |
| Bus | SSTL‑70 |
| Manufacturer | Alcatel Espace (overall), Surrey Satellite Technology (bus) |
| Launch Vehicle | Ariane 40 (V75) |
| Launch Site | ELA‑2, Kourou |
| Orbit | Sun‑synchronous |
| Operators | Direction générale de l'Armement, Alcatel |

### Legacy and Impact  
Cerise’s successful deployment demonstrated that small, cost‑effective satellites could fulfill sophisticated military reconnaissance roles. Its collision with space debris highlighted the vulnerability of low‑orbit assets, influencing later debris‑tracking initiatives and design standards for shielding. The satellite’s dual civilian‑military partnership model also set a precedent for future French space projects that blend governmental and industrial expertise.

## References

1. [Source](https://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/cerise.htm)
2. Jonathan's Space Report
3. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
4. [Collision of Cerise with Space Debris](https://articles.adsabs.harvard.edu//full/1997ESASP.393..589A/0000596.000.html)