# CSO-1

> French reconnaissance satellite

**Wikidata**: [Q60526299](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q60526299)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/cso-1

## Summary
CSO-1 (Composante Spatiale Optique-1) is a French military reconnaissance satellite designed to collect intelligence data. Launched on December 19, 2018, it operates as the first unit in the Composante Spatiale Optique program, serving as a strategic asset for the French military. Weighing approximately 3,655 kilograms at launch, it succeeded the Hélios 2B satellite in orbit.

## Key Facts
*   **Classification:** Reconnaissance satellite designed for military and intelligence applications.
*   **Launch Date:** December 19, 2018, at 16:37:14.
*   **Launch Mass:** 3,655 kilograms.
*   **Program:** Part of the Composante Spatiale Optique (CSO) military earth observation program.
*   **Operator:** Direction générale de l'Armement (DGA).
*   **Orbit:** Sun-synchronous orbit.
*   **Launch Vehicle:** Soyuz-2.1a rocket equipped with a Fregat-M space tug.
*   **Manufacturers:** Thales Alenia Space and Space Systems.
*   **Predecessor:** Hélios 2B.

## FAQs
### Q: What is the primary mission of CSO-1?
A: CSO-1 is a reconnaissance satellite tasked with covertly collecting data for intelligence and military applications. It is part of France's strategic military earth observation program.

### Q: When and how was CSO-1 launched?
A: CSO-1 was launched on December 19, 2018, using a Soyuz-2.1a rocket. It launched from the Ensemble de Lancement Soyouz and was deployed into a Sun-synchronous orbit.

### Q: Who built and operates CSO-1?
A: The satellite was manufactured by Thales Alenia Space and Space Systems using the AstroSat-1000 spacecraft bus. It is operated by the French defense procurement agency, the Direction générale de l'Armement.

## Why It Matters
CSO-1 represents a critical component of France's national security infrastructure, serving as the inaugural satellite of the Composante Spatiale Optique (CSO) program. As a dedicated military reconnaissance asset, it provides the French government with sovereign capability to gather strategic intelligence, reducing reliance on allied or commercial systems. By succeeding the Hélios 2B satellite, CSO-1 ensures the continuity of France's space-based surveillance, offering enhanced capabilities for monitoring global geopolitical hotspots and supporting military operations.

The satellite's technical profile underscores its strategic importance; weighing 3,655 kg and utilizing the AstroSat-1000 bus, it is a substantial piece of hardware designed for durability and high performance in a Sun-synchronous orbit. This orbit allows it to pass over the same points on Earth at the same local solar time, providing consistent lighting conditions for imaging. The collaboration between manufacturers Thales Alenia Space and Space Systems highlights Europe's industrial capacity to produce advanced defense technology. As the first of its class, CSO-1 sets the operational standard for its successor, CSO-2, solidifying the framework for France's optical space intelligence for years to come.

## Notable For
*   **First of its Class:** Being the first satellite launched in the Composante Spatiale Optique program.
*   **Heavy Lift:** A launch mass of 3,655 kg, making it a heavy-class reconnaissance satellite.
*   **Solar Array Configuration:** Powered by four specific spacecraft solar arrays.
*   **Specific Identification:** Designated with the international COSPAR ID 2018-106A and SCN 43866.

## Body

### Development and Manufacturing
CSO-1 was developed as part of the Composante Spatiale Optique (CSO) program, a French military initiative for earth observation. The satellite was constructed by a consortium involving **Thales Alenia Space** and **Space Systems**. It utilizes the **AstroSat-1000** spacecraft bus, a platform designed for flexible and high-performance satellite missions.

*   **Power Systems:** The satellite is powered by a spacecraft solar array consisting of 4 panels.
*   **Mass:** The total launch weight (criterion used) was recorded as 3,655 kilograms.

### Launch and Deployment
The satellite successfully launched on **December 19, 2018**, precisely at 16:37:14 UTC.
*   **Launch Site:** Ensemble de Lancement Soyouz.
*   **Rocket:** The launch vehicle used was a **Soyuz-2.1a** (version U 15000-009).
*   **Upper Stage:** A **Fregat-M** (tail number 133-10) was used as the space tug to finalize the delivery.
*   **Target Orbit:** The satellite was placed into a Sun-synchronous orbit to optimize lighting conditions for reconnaissance.

### Operational Context
CSO-1 is operated by the **Direction générale de l'Armement** (DGA), the French defense procurement agency. It functions as a dedicated reconnaissance satellite, covertly collecting data to support military applications. It is directly involved in the "rocket launch" significant event category due to its deployment nature.

### Genealogy
In the timeline of French and European reconnaissance assets:
*   **Preceded by:** Hélios 2B, a European military reconnaissance satellite.
*   **Succeeded by:** CSO-2, the second satellite in the CSO program.

## Schema Markup
```json
{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "Thing",
  "name": "CSO-1",
  "description": "A French military reconnaissance satellite and the first unit of the Composante Spatiale Optique program, launched in 2018.",
  "sameAs": [
    "https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q43483866",
    "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CSO-1"
  ],
  "additionalType": "Reconnaissance Satellite"
}

## References

1. [Source](https://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/cso-1.htm)
2. Jonathan's Space Report