On its VS25 flight, a Soyuz ST-A (Fregat M) successfully launched from Sinnamary Launch Site near Kourou, French Guiana at 1642 GMT on 29 December 2020. The 3,562 kg payload carried was the Airbus Defence and Space-built CSO-2 Earth observation “identification” satellite launch on behalf of the French Ministry of Defence which was released into a Sun-synchronous orbit 59 minutes after lift off. The launch procured by the French Space Agency (CNES) and the French procurement agency (DGA) is believed to be the final orbital launch of the year. The satellite has a minimum design life of 10 years.
CSO-2 is launched from Sinnamary on an Soyuz ST-A/Fregat M. Courtesy: Arianespace
