In 2007 and 2008 ASI launched three out of four X-band SAR satellites of the COSMO-SkyMed Mission, making
available to the users a unique SAR constellation dedicated to the Earth Observation.
The constellation will be completed with the launch of the fourth satellite in 2010. The complete deployed system
consists of a constellation of four Low Earth Orbit mid-sized satellites, each equipped with a multi-mode high-resolution
Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) operating at X-band.
The results coming from the utilisation of the first three satellites reveal an outstanding performance of the X-band SAR
and the importance of fast response times in several applications such as risk and emergency management and ice
monitoring.
During the tragic event of the L'Aquila earthquake CSK monitored the areas affected by the quake detecting a surface
displacement up to 19 cm. Also analyses were conducted to identify models of the fault causing the earthquake.
Wilkins Ice Shelf relevant disintegration started in 2007-2008. On April 2009 another consistent collapse occurred,
causing the brake of the ice bridge located between the Charcot Island and the Antarctic Peninsula. The phenomenon is
going ahead and main cracks appeared also in the shelf placed between Latady Island and the Antarctic Peninsula.
COnstellation of small Satellites for Mediterranean basin Observation (COSMO-SkyMed) is the largest Italian
investment in Space Systems for Earth Observation, commissioned and funded by Italian Space Agency (ASI) and
Italian Ministry of Defence (MoD). COSMO-SkyMed is a Dual-Use (Civilian and Defence) end-to-end Earth
Observation System aimed at establishing a global service supplying provision of data, products and services compliant
with well-established international standards and relevant to a wide range of applications, such as Risk Management,
Scientific and Commercial Applications and Defence Applications. The system consists of a constellation of four LEO
mid-sized satellites, each equipped with a multi-mode
high-resolution SAR operating at X-band. The first and second
COSMO-SkyMed satellites have been successfully launched the 8th of June and the 9th of December 2007 respectively,
while the remaining two satellites will be gradually deployed by the end of 2009. COSMO-SkyMed 1 and 2 completed
their Commissioning phase to test, verify and qualify the overall System and from the 1st of August both satellites are in
the operational phase. The results of the commissioning phase of COSMO-SkyMed 1 and 2 are presented together with
the Scientific Mission Exploitation strategy (i.e.: Announcement of Opportunity, Background Mission).
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