COSMO-Skymed 3

Italy

Spacecraft n°:

Italian spacecraft n°: 24

COSMO = Constellation of small Satellites for Mediterranean Basin Observation

Launch data:

Designation	33412 / 08054A
Launch date	25 Oct 2008 - 02:28 UT
Launch site	Va, SLC-2W
Launch vehicle	Delta-7420-10C
Mission	Military/Governm: Earth observation
LEO Sun-Synchronous Earth orbit on:
Perigee / Apogee	622 x 625 km
Eccentricity	2,14E-04
Inclination	97,86 deg
Period	97,17 min

Spacecraft data:

Prime contractor	Thales Alenia Space
Platform	Thales-Alenia Prima bus
Operator	Italian Space Agency/Ministry of Defense
Mass at launch	1900 kg
Dry Mass	kg
Basic shape
Dimension (m)
Solar array
Stabilization
DC power
Design lifetime	5 yrs

Mission details:

Earth imaging; synthetic aperture radar (SAR) operating in X-band, focus on Mediterranean security.
A Boeing Delta 2 launched Italy's third COSMO civil/military radar satellite on Oct 25. The 1900 kg COSMO 3 carries an X-band synthetic aperture radar. Planned orbit was 620 x 637 km x 97.8 deg; initial orbit appears to be 621 x 624 km, with the Delta stage orbit lowered to 189 x 621 km after propellant depletion.

Ref.: #7(JR602), #226 - update: 27.12.08