Second COSMO-SkyMed goes into orbit.

The second satellite of the four Italian COSMO-SkyMed satellites, designed and manufactured by Thales Alenia Space as prime contractor, was launched on 9 December from the US Air Force base at Vandenberg (California) by a Delta II rocket. The COSMO-SkyMed system is billed as the first dual use Earth Observation constellation able to operate in all weather and light conditions. Total investments for the whole system is around 1 billion [euro]. COSMO-SkyMed aims to monitor and survey the globe for civil protection, including management of environmental risks, for national security, as well as for scientific and commercial purposes. The constellation allows the evaluation of the situation at a global level, thanks to the sophisticated radar technology installed onboard the satellites. COSMO-SkyMed will liaise with the French optical system, Helios 2, and will operate with the two Saocom satellites (Argentina), implementing the Siasge system, based on an agreement between ASI and CONAE. The third satellite is scheduled to be launched during summer 2008 from the Vandenberg base in California.

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