The satellite lifted off from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. Less than an hour after separation from the launcher, its signal was successfully acquired by Telespazio’s Fucino Space Centre in Italy’s Abruzzo region, confirming the spacecraft was operating as expected.
Telespazio will manage the satellite’s launch and early orbit phase, which is expected to last about nine days, before it transitions into full commissioning and routine operations.
COSMO-SkyMed is a dual-use radar Earth observation system jointly owned by the Italian Space Agency and the Italian Ministry of Defence. The second-generation satellites are built by Thales Alenia Space, a joint venture between Thales and Leonardo, while on-orbit operations are conducted by Telespazio, also jointly owned by Leonardo and Thales.
Leonardo space division managing director Massimo Claudio Comparini said each COSMO-SkyMed launch represented a significant achievement for Italy’s national space sector and its industrial supply chain.
“Earth observation and the data it provides are a strategic asset for security and sustainability,” Comparini said. “They enable increasingly timely and targeted services and interventions, strengthening Italy’s role in space while delivering value to both the country and the international community.”
The newly launched spacecraft will help ensure continuity of synthetic-aperture radar services while further improving image quality and coverage. Equipped with the latest radar technologies, the second-generation satellites are progressively replacing the original COSMO-SkyMed system, which comprised four spacecraft, two of which remain operational.
Once the full second-generation constellation of four satellites is deployed, the system will deliver a significant uplift in performance and greatly expand the range of applications available to government and commercial users.
The integrated space and ground system is widely regarded as a benchmark for space-based radar observation in terms of accuracy, image quality and flexible user services.
Thales Alenia Space Italy chief executive Giampiero Di Paolo said the successful launch underscored the company’s leadership in radar satellite technology.
“When fully deployed, the COSMO-SkyMed Second Generation constellation will provide a substantial step forward in performance and capability, reinforcing Thales Alenia Space’s global leadership in Earth observation infrastructure,” he said.
Since the launch of the first COSMO-SkyMed satellite in 2007, the system has acquired and archived around 4.3 million radar images, supporting applications ranging from environmental monitoring and infrastructure management to security and emergency response.
As a contributing mission to the European Union’s Copernicus program, COSMO-SkyMed also plays a critical role in the European Commission’s Emergency Rapid Mapping service, which delivers satellite imagery of areas affected by natural disasters or humanitarian crises within hours.
Italian industry plays a central role in the program, with Leonardo, Thales Alenia Space and Telespazio working alongside a broad network of small and medium-sized enterprises.
Thales Alenia Space is responsible for the overall second-generation program, including satellite design, manufacturing and system integration. Telespazio leads development of the ground segment and provides logistics and operational services, while Leonardo supplies key attitude control systems and advanced electrical power management equipment.
COSMO-SkyMed data is marketed globally by e-GEOS, a joint venture between the Italian Space Agency and Telespazio, which processes the imagery into operational products for applications, including emergency management, maritime surveillance, precision agriculture and natural resource monitoring.