NEXT SPACEFLIGHT

Status

CO3D & MicroCarb

Launch Time
NET June, 2025

Rocket

Vega C
Arianespace
Status: Active
Liftoff Thrust: 4,500 kN
Payload to LEO: 2,300 kg
Stages: 4
Strap-ons: 0
Rocket Height: 35.0 m
Fairing Diameter: 3.3 m
Fairing Height: 9.0 m

Mission Details

CO3D

CO3D (Constellation Optique en 3D) is an Earth observation satellite constellation by the French CNES consisting initially of 4 satellites. The satellites will deliver 50 cm resolution stereo imagery across the world on a daily basis to produce a cutting-edge 3D map of the Earth’s landmass.

Designed to weigh approximately 300 kg each, the CO3D satellites will join Airbus’ fleet of optical and radar satellites, strengthening the company’s ability to meet the growing needs of very demanding applications. The satellites are based on all electric propulsion platforms derived from the OneWeb bu.

Payloads: 4
Total Mass: 1,200.0 kg
Sun-Synchronous Orbit

MicroCarb

MicroCarb is a small satellite designed to map sources and sinks of carbon dioxide (CO2)—the most important greenhouse gas — on a global scale. MicroCarb's dispersive spectrometer instrument will be able to measure atmospheric concentration of CO2 globally with a high degree of precision (on the order of 1 ppm) and with a pixel size of 4.5 km x 9 km.

The instrument will be flown on a microsatellite built around CNES’s Myriade spacecraft bus. This mission involves the French scientific community studying climatology and the carbon cycle. The mission will be funded by the Investments for the Future Programmes.

Payloads: 1
Total Mass: 190.0 kg
Sun-Synchronous Orbit

Location

ELV, Guiana Space Centre, French Guiana, France