# Hélios 2B

> European military reconnaissance satellite

**Wikidata**: [Q3129779](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q3129779)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Helios_2B)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/helios-2b

## Summary
Hélios 2B is a European military reconnaissance satellite launched in 2009 to covertly collect intelligence data for military applications. Operated by France's Direction générale de l'Armement, it succeeded Hélios 2A and was part of a broader European satellite surveillance program.

## Key Facts
- **Launch Date**: December 18, 2009, at 16:26 UTC from ELA-3.
- **Mass**: 4,200 kg at launch.
- **Operator**: Direction générale de l'Armement (France).
- **Manufacturer**: Astrium (now Airbus Defence and Space).
- **Launch Vehicle**: Ariane 5GS (flight V193).
- **Orbit**: Sun-synchronous orbit.
- **Spacecraft Bus**: Based on the SPOT satellite platform.
- **Power Source**: Spacecraft solar array.
- **Predecessor**: Hélios 2A.
- **Successor**: CSO-1 (French reconnaissance satellite).

## FAQs
### Q: What is the purpose of Hélios 2B?
A: Hélios 2B is a military reconnaissance satellite designed to covertly gather intelligence data for European defense and security purposes.

### Q: When was Hélios 2B launched?
A: It was launched on December 18, 2009, at 16:26 UTC from the ELA-3 launch site.

### Q: Who operates Hélios 2B?
A: The satellite is operated by France's Direction générale de l'Armement (DGA).

### Q: What rocket launched Hélios 2B?
A: It was launched aboard an Ariane 5GS rocket (flight V193).

### Q: What replaced Hélios 2B?
A: The CSO-1 satellite succeeded Hélios 2B as part of France's next-generation reconnaissance program.

## Why It Matters
Hélios 2B plays a critical role in European military intelligence by providing high-resolution imagery and surveillance capabilities. As part of the Hélios program, it enhances strategic autonomy for France and its allies, enabling better situational awareness and decision-making in defense operations. The satellite's sun-synchronous orbit allows for consistent coverage of key regions, supporting both national security and international missions. Its deployment reflects Europe's growing investment in independent space-based reconnaissance, reducing reliance on external intelligence sources.

## Notable For
- **Military Reconnaissance**: One of Europe's primary satellites for covert intelligence gathering.
- **High Mass**: Weighed 4,200 kg at launch, indicating advanced payload capabilities.
- **Sun-Synchronous Orbit**: Optimized for consistent Earth observation under similar lighting conditions.
- **Part of Hélios Program**: Second satellite in the Hélios 2 series, following Hélios 2A.
- **Transition to CSO Program**: Directly preceded by CSO-1, marking a generational shift in French reconnaissance satellites.

## Body
### Overview
Hélios 2B is a European military reconnaissance satellite designed for intelligence collection. It is part of the Hélios program, a collaborative effort primarily led by France to develop autonomous space-based surveillance capabilities.

### Technical Specifications
- **Mass**: 4,200 kg (launch weight).
- **Spacecraft Bus**: Based on the SPOT satellite platform, known for Earth observation missions.
- **Power Source**: Equipped with a spacecraft solar array for energy.
- **Orbit**: Sun-synchronous orbit, ensuring consistent imaging conditions.

### Launch Details
- **Date and Time**: December 18, 2009, at 16:26 UTC.
- **Launch Site**: ELA-3 (Ensemble de Lancement Ariane 3) in French Guiana.
- **Launch Vehicle**: Ariane 5GS (flight V193), a European heavy-lift rocket.
- **Space Tug**: EPS-V L10 (upper stage).

### Operational Role
- **Operator**: Direction générale de l'Armement (DGA), France's defense procurement agency.
- **Mission**: Covert data collection for military and intelligence applications.
- **Successor**: CSO-1 (Composante Spatiale Optique), launched in 2018, replaced Hélios 2B as part of France's next-generation reconnaissance program.

### Identification
- **COSPAR ID**: 2009-073A.
- **NSSDCA ID**: 2009-073A.
- **Satellite Catalog Number (SCN)**: 36124.

## Schema Markup
```json
{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "Thing",
  "name": "Hélios 2B",
  "description": "European military reconnaissance satellite launched in 2009 for intelligence collection.",
  "sameAs": [
    "https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q206855",
    "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Helios_2B"
  ],
  "additionalType": "ReconnaissanceSatellite"
}

## References

1. [Source](https://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/helios-2a.htm)
2. Jonathan's Space Report
3. [Source](https://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sat/astrium_spot.htm)