On November 16 at 09:27 UTC, an Arianespace Vega launched three CERES satellites into a 700-kilometer orbit from the Guiana Space Center.

CERES is a new constellation of signals intelligence satellites for the French military. Signals intelligence is intelligence-gathering by intercepting signals such as communications between people, cell towers, radio stations, and other electronic sources. The three-satellite constellation will fly over target locations once a day in a close formation, which gives them the ability to precisely locate transmitters. 

The launch of these satellites is a Big Deal for France. According to the launch press kit: France is now the only European country that has joined the closed club of the most advanced nations in the intelligence of electromagnetic sources. 

Built by Airbus Defense and Space, each satellite weighs in at 446 kilograms each; that’s about as heavy as a grand piano. Thales Defense Mission Systems provided both the payload and its ground system.

The total mass inserted into orbit, including the three satellites and the adapter to launch them all on one rocket, was 1,548 kilograms or almost the mass of a 2009 Ford Taurus. Vega is the smallest rocket operated by Arianespace, capable of putting 1,500 kilograms into a 700-kilometer orbit, so this mission maxed out its capabilities.

The three satellites were separated from the fourth stage of the rocket just under one hour after launch following two burns of that stage to put the satellites into the intended orbit.

The next Arianespace launch will be the JWST on an Ariane 5.

More Information

PDF: VV20 launch kit (Arianespace)

Vega info page (Arianespace)

Launch video