Helios 2 (satellite) explained

The Helios 2 system, which consists of the Helios 2A and Helios 2B, is a French-developed military Earth observation satellite program.[1] Financed at 90% by France, the development also involved minor participation from Belgium, Spain, Italy and Greece.[2] Helios 2A was launched on 18 December 2004 by an Ariane 5 rocket from French Guiana.[3]

Helios 2B was launched five years later, on 18 December 2009, carried also by an Ariane 5. The two satellites are identical.[4] They carry a Thales-built high-resolution visible and thermal infrared instrument with 35 cm resolution, and an Airbus-built medium-resolution instrument. The Helios 2 satellite bus is nearly identical to the platform built by EADS Astrium for the Spot 5 civil-commercial optical observation satellite.[5]

The Helios 2 will be replaced by the Composante Spatiale Optique (CSO), a new French program of three military observation satellites. The first satellite (CSO-1) was launched on 15 December 2018, the second (CSO-2) on 29 December 2020, with the final launch (CSO-3) being scheduled for 2024.[6] [7] [8]

See also

References

  1. Web site: October 14, 2004. HELIOS II, A New Generation of Military Satellites. CNES. December 4, 2022.
  2. ESPI Report 72 -: Europe, Space and Defence - Full Report. European Space Policy Institute. February 2020. 22. December 4, 2022.
  3. News: Helios 2A, Launch Successful. December 20, 2004. Via Satellite. December 4, 2022.
  4. Web site: Cnes : Helios . 2004-12-20 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20090504025901/http://www.cnes.fr/web/CNES-en/2744-helios.php . 2009-05-04 .
  5. News: France's Helios 2A Recon Satellite Produces First Images. June 29, 2004. Space News. December 4, 2022. Peter B.. de SELDING.
  6. Web site: Parsonson . Andrew . Ariane 6 Anomaly Will Have "No Consequence" On Upcoming Missions . European Spaceflight . 10 July 2024 . 31 July 2024.
  7. Web site: Foust . Jeff . ESA sets mid-2024 date for first Ariane 6 launch . . 30 November 2023 . 30 November 2023.
  8. Web site: CSO-2 Satellite in Orbit. 29 December 2020. Thales Group. December 4, 2022.

https://helios.cnes.fr/en/helios-0[9] [10]