COSMO-SkyMed

COSMO-SkyMed (COnstellation of small Satellites for the Mediterranean basin Observation) is an Earth observation satellite system funded by the Italian Ministry of Research and Ministry of Defence and conducted by the Italian Space Agency (ASI), intended for both military and civilian use.^[1]

The space segment of the system will include four medium-sized satellites equipped with synthetic aperture radar (SAR) sensors with global coverage of the planet.^[2] Observations of an area of interest will be repeated several times a day in all-weather conditions. The imagery will be applied to defense and security assurance in Italy and other countries, seismic hazard analysis, environmental disaster monitoring, and agricultural mapping.^[3]

Space segment

The four satellites are planned for sun-synchronous polar orbits, phased at 90° and at an altitude of 619 km with an orbit of 97 minutes. The expected operating life of each satellite is estimate in 5 years.

The satellites main components are:

• Two solar array for 3.8 kW at 42 V DC
• Stabilization, navigation and GPS systems
• Synthetic aperture radar working in X band
• 300 Gbit on-board memory and 310 Mbit/s data-link with ground segments

Launch

United Launch Alliance is providing launch services for the first three satellites. Satellite processing for the first two satellites was handled by the Astrotech Space Operations subsidiary of SPACEHAB.^[3] The first satellite was launched at 22:34 GMT, on 8 June 2007, aboard a Delta II 7420-10 rocket from Vandenberg AFB.^[4] An identical rocket launched COSMO-2 at 02:31:42 GMT on 9 December 2007,^[5] the launch having been delayed from 6 December due to bad weather, and problems with the rocket's cork insulation. COSMO-3 launched at 02:38 GMT on 25 October 2008, also aboard a Delta II 7420-10. A Delta II flying in the 7420-10 configuration will also be used to launch COSMO-4.^[6] Launched from Vandenberg Air Force Base on November 5, 2010 at 1920L.

Ground segment

The ground segment of the system is composed by:

• Command Center:
  •  Italian Centro Controllo e Pianificazione Missione del Fucino
• Tracking and data stations:
  •  Argentinian Cordoba station
  •  Sweden Kiruna station
• User Ground Segments:
  •  Italian Matera Civil User Ground Segment
  •  Italian Pratica di Mare Defence User Ground Segment
  •  France Defence User Ground Segment

The Argentinian and the France government are involved respectively in the civil and in the military segment of the system.

Flares

The COSMO-SkyMed satellites are lesser-known deliverers of satellite flares, sometimes approaching magnitude -2. Although overshadowed by the Iridium satellites, the flares are often long-lasting, with the satellites traversing much of the sky at brighter-than-average magnitudes.

• 

  A COSMO-SkyMed flare.

See also

• SAR Lupe, a system of five military SAR-satellites of Germany

References

1. ^ "COSMO-SkyMed: Mission definition and main applications and products". ESA. http://earth.esa.int/workshops/polinsar2003/participants/rum74/skymed.pdf. 
2. ^ "COSMO-SkyMed". Telespazio. http://www.telespazio.it/cosmo.html. 
3. ^ ^{a b} "SPACEHAB Subsidiary Signs New Contracts Totaling $4.7 Million". SPACEHAB. http://www.spacehab.com/news/2007/07_06_07.htm. 
4. ^ "Worldwide launch schedule". Spaceflight Now. http://spaceflightnow.com/tracking/index.html. 
5. ^ NASA Spaceflight.com - Delta II launches with COSMO-SkyMed-2
6. ^ "Boeing To Launch Fourth EO Satellite For Italy". SpaceDaily. Dec 23, 2008. http://www.space-travel.com/reports/Boeing_To_Launch_Fourth_EO_Satellite_For_Italy_999.html. 

External links

• COSMO-SkyMed Web Site
• COSMO-SkyMed Products
• INNOVA Consorzio per l'Informatica e la Telematica s.r.l. - Italian SME with specific know-how and expertise with COSMO-SkyMed's HDF5 format
• Remote Monitoring of Migrants Vessels in the Mediterranean Sea (CeMiSS) File pdf