Airbus reports that four CO3D (Constellation Optique 3D) satellites it built were placed in orbit by an Arianespace Vega-C rocket from Kourou and will begin their mission to map the Earth’s surface in high detail in 3D.
These dual-use CO3D satellites will provide a high-resolution global digital surface model (DSM) with 50 cm resolution stereoscopic images for CNES and 2D images for government and commercial customers.
Over the next six months, these 285-kg satellites in a sun-synchronous orbit at an altitude of 502 km will undergo orbital tests before beginning an 18-month campaign to provide CNES with a 3D map of France and the ‘arc de crise’.
The data will feed into a digital ground segment operated by Airbus to produce the final 3D map, supporting critical military and civil applications ranging from geology and hydrology to urban planning and civil security.
Airbus adds that the MicroCarb satellite, for which it supplied the infrared spectrometer, was also deployed during the same launch, with the aim of mapping the carbon content of the atmosphere on a global scale.