The COSMO-SkyMed constellation consists of satellites equipped with X-band Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR).
The COSMO-SkyMed constellation currently includes four operational satellites.
COSMO-SkyMed Seconda Generazione – Flight Model 3 (CSG-FM3) is preparing to leave Italy for the launch site at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California.
The COSMO-SkyMed program is recognized as one of the most innovative Earth observation programs financed by the ASI and the Ministry of Defense.
The new satellite of the COSMO-SkyMed program is ready to be transported from Italy to the Vandenberg launch base in the USA.
COSMO-SkyMed is an example of successful cooperation between the Defense Ministry, the Italian Space Agency, and the national industry.
The COSMO-SkyMed radar can monitor landslides and earthquakes while also tracking ships and vehicles in crisis scenarios.
COSMO-SkyMed serves both the Italian Civil Protection and Defense sectors.
The second generation of the COSMO-SkyMed constellation aims for sub-metric resolution and high revisit frequency.
Italy has developed high-level expertise in SAR radar through COSMO-SkyMed.
The IRIDE SAR and optical satellites feature sophisticated operating modes to support high revisit rates and to allow integration of IRIDE data with existing or future programs including COSMO-SkyMed Second Generation, Prisma, and the EU Copernicus program.
IRIDE satellites feature operating modes that support high revisit rates and data integration with existing or future programs including COSMO-SkyMed Second Generation, PRISMA, and the Copernicus program.
Copernicus operations are using radar data from Canada’s Radarsat-2 and Radarsat Constellation Mission, Germany’s TerraSAR-X, Italy’s COSMO-SkyMed, and Spain’s PAZ to support operational sea-ice monitoring for the Copernicus Marine Environment Monitoring Service.
Asterra gathers data from Japan’s Advanced Land Observing Satellite-2 and from Saocom 1A and 1B radar satellites built by Argentina’s space agency and operated jointly with the Italian Cosmo-SkyMed constellation.
Copernicus contributing radar missions used to support operational sea-ice monitoring include Canada’s Radarsat-2 and Radarsat Constellation Mission, Germany’s TerraSAR-X, Italy’s COSMO-SkyMed, and Spain’s PAZ.
The Falcon 9 booster used for the KPLO launch previously supported the launches of Arabsat-6A, STP-2, COSMO-SkyMed Second Generation FM2, and two Starlink missions.
ESA and the European Commission are buying SAR data from other satellites, including Canada’s Radarsat-2 and Radarsat Constellation Mission, Germany’s TerraSAR-X, Italy’s COSMO-SkyMed, and Spain’s PAZ.
A Falcon 9 launched Italy’s Cosmo-SkyMed Second Generation 2 radar imaging satellite on 2022-01-31.
The Italian space agency ASI selected SpaceX to launch Cosmo-SkyMed Second Generation 2 because of delays with the Vega C rocket.
A Falcon 9 launched an Italian-built COSMO-SkyMed Second Generation Earth observation satellite from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida on 2022-01-31.