Helios 2 (satellite)
| Company type | Military satellite program |
|---|---|
| Industry | Aerospace, Defense |
| Founder | France (primary), Belgium, Spain, Italy, Greece (contributors) |
| Headquarters | France |
| Products | Earth observation satellites (Helios 2A, Helios 2B) |
The Helios 2 program, which includes the satellites Helios 2A and Helios 2B, represents a military Earth observation satellite initiative developed by France. While France provided approximately 90% of the funding, smaller contributions were made by Belgium, Spain, Italy, and Greece. Helios 2A was deployed on 18 December 2004, with Helios 2B following on 18 December 2009; both launches utilized Ariane 5 launch vehicles from French Guiana. These twin satellites are equipped with a high-resolution visible and thermal infrared sensor manufactured by Thales, offering a resolution of 35 cm, complemented by a medium-resolution instrument produced by Airbus. The satellite bus design for Helios 2 is closely modeled after the platform employed in the civil-commercial Spot 5 optical observation satellite.
The Helios 2 constellation is being replaced by the Composante Spatiale Optique (CSO) initiative, which comprises three next-generation French military reconnaissance satellites. The first satellite, CSO-1, was launched on 15 December 2018, followed by CSO-2 on 29 December 2020. The third satellite, CSO-3, is planned for launch in 2024, reflecting France’s ongoing commitment to enhancing its space-based surveillance infrastructure.