Official name CERES 3
Alternative name CERES 3
Cospar ID 2021-105C
Norad ID 49466
Launch date 2021-11-16
Launch site FRGUI
Launch vehicle Vega
Country/Organization France
Type application SIGINT
Operator DGA
RCS size UNKNOWN
Decay date ON ORBIT
Shape Box
Mass (kg) 446
Height (m) 3
Width (m) 1
Depth (m) 1
Span (m^2) 5
Lifetime 8 years
Contractors Airbus Defence and Space (prime); Thales Alenia Space (bus)
Equipment SIGINT payload
Propulsion ?
Power Deployable solar array, batteries

CERES (Capacité de Renseignement Electromagnétique Spatiale or Space Signal Intelligence Capacity) is a French ELINT satellite system, consisting of three closely positioned satellites that are designed to detect and locate ground signals, along with ground control and user ground segments.

CERES is the first operational interception system for the French defence agency and draws on the experience acquired from the ESSAIM and ELISA demonstrators:

Airbus Defence and Space has been entrusted with the space segment comprising the three satellites, while Thales is responsible for the payload and the user ground segment. The two manufacturers are the joint prime contractors for the entire system. In addition, Thales Alenia Space acts as a subcontractor to Airbus Defence and Space in supplying the platform. Originally the ELITE bus was to be used, but a mission-specific platform was eventually developed.

The satellites were launched in 2021 (delayed from 2020) on a Vega rocket.

Satellite COSPAR Date LS Launch Vehicle Remarks
CERES 1 2021-105A 2021-11-16 FRGUI Vega with CERES 2, 3
CERES 2 2021-105B 2021-11-16 FRGUI Vega with CERES 1, 3
CERES 3 2021-105C 2021-11-16 FRGUI Vega with CERES 1, 2