On March 6, 2025, Europe’s Ariane 6 rocket successfully completed its first commercial mission, marking a pivotal moment in the continent’s space endeavors.
Lifting off from the Guiana Space Centre in Kourou, French Guiana, the launcher carried the CSO-3 Earth Observation and reconnaissance satellite for the French Armed Forces, underscoring Europe’s commitment to autonomous access to space and enhanced defense capabilities.

The successful deployment of CSO-3 is a testament to Ariane 6’s reliability, Europe’s strategic autonomy in space, and the beginning of the launcher’s commercial operation.
CSO-3, part of France’s Composante Spatiale Optique series, enhances the nation’s and its partners’ defense reconnaissance capabilities, providing high-resolution imaging for security and intelligence operations. This mission showcases Europe’s ability to conduct critical space missions in an autonomous and independent manner.
“If we want to maintain our independence, ensure our security and preserve our sovereignty, we must equip ourselves with the means for strategic autonomy,” Philippe Baptiste, former head of the French space agency CNES and French Minister for Higher Education and Research, said during the official launch webcast. “Ariane 6, carrying the CSO-3 satellite, is proof of our space sovereignty,” he added.
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