US and French Satellites Conduct Bilateral Rendezvous Operation as Part of Multinational Force-Operation Olympic Defender

French and American military satellites successfully practiced joint maneuvers as part of US Space Command’s multinational space warplan, Multinational Force-Operation Olympic Defender. The operation involved two satellites maneuvering closely around each other and was the first jointly planned under Olympic Defender. Six allied nations are currently involved in the program, including France, Australia, Canada, Germany, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom. According to COMSPOC, the French-American pas-de-deux involved another GSSAP satellite and France’s SYRACUSE 3A. The satellites performed three sets of maneuvers, with the closest approach being about 25.1 kilometers (15.6 miles). This recent bilateral operation demonstrates not only the coalition’s capacity to plan and execute dynamic and responsible space operations but also its steadfast commitment to stand shoulder-to-shoulder in defense of their shared interests in space.