The COSMO-SkyMed Second Generation’s second satellite (CSG FM2) has already demonstrated its impressive capabilities less than a month after its launch. The program, which is funded by the Italian Space Agency (ASI) and the Ministry of Defense, with the contribution of the Ministry of University and Research, is currently in its Commissioning phase. The satellite has captured images of the Pine Island glacier, the South Pole, the plateau near Pordenone in Northern Italy, and some islands in the Galapagos archipelago.
The COSMO-SkyMed Second Generation system was developed to ensure operational continuity with the first generation while introducing several technological advancements and user services. The first satellite was launched in 2019, with four first-generation satellites still operational and launched between 2007 and 2010.
The COSMO-SkyMed constellation provides users with data of exceptional value for applications such as infrastructure monitoring, emergency management, climate change monitoring, and security. The Second Generation’s new capabilities, including “quad pol” and improved resolution in several acquisition modes, have opened up new possibilities for applications.
The Italian national industry plays a crucial role in this program, with Leonardo and its joint ventures Thales Alenia Space and Telespazio, along with a significant number of small and medium-sized enterprises. Thales Alenia Space is the prime contractor responsible for the entire system, while Telespazio is responsible for the ground segment and hosts the command and control center of the constellation at the Fucino Space Center. Leonardo also contributes to the program by providing star trackers for satellite orientation, photovoltaic panels (PVA), and electronic units for managing electrical power. COSMO-SkyMed data is marketed worldwide by e-GEOS (Telespazio 80% and ASI 20%).
High-resolution images of the Pine Island glacier, the Pordenone plateau, and the Galapagos archipelago are available for download. The images were processed by e-GEOS and distributed by ASI.
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