AvionNews (WAPA)
The Italian Space Agency (ASI) has given mandate to e-GEOS, a joint-venture majority owned by the Italian Space Agency (ASI) and Telespazio (Finmeccanica/Thales), to market the data and products of the COSMO-SkyMed Earth observation programme. The first COSMO-SkyMed satellite was launched successfully on 7 June from the Vandenberg base in California.
COSMO-SkyMed is one of the most innovative programmes in the Earth observation field. Financed by the ASI and the Italian Defence Ministry, the programme foresees the launch into orbit of a constellation of four satellites equipped with X-band radar sensors with resolution of up to a metre.
The system will contribute significantly to territorial protection and will have many applications in areas such as fires, landslides, droughts, pollution, agricultural and forest resources management, land mapping, safety and security. The satellite data market is a fast growing one and satellite data are becoming a major source of geo-spatial information for the management of natural resources, territorial planning, emergency prevention and management, and security.
The COSMO-SkyMed programme opens up a new era of operational applications, particularly in the field of near-real-time monitoring, thanks to its “Guaranteed” data acquisition capabilities (i.e. during the day, at night and in all weather conditions), their high frequency (every 3-6 hours) and the continuity of service ensured by having a constellation of four satellites.
Giovanni Bignami, Chairman of the Italian Space Agency, said: “The COSMO-SkyMed programme consists not only of a military component managed by the Italian Defence Ministry and a governmental component run by the ASI, but also a commercial aspect aimed at giving Italy a leading position on the international market”.
Giuseppe Veredice, CEO of Telespazio, stated: “Telespazio has played a key role in the development of COSMO-SkyMed by developing the entire ground segment of the programme and being in charge of the satellite operations. Via e-GEOS, Telespazio will be involved in the commercialization of COSMO-SkyMed products, and may develop further innovative applications”.
Marcello Maranesi, CEO of e-GEOS said: “We plan to develop COSMO-SkyMed presence not only in Europe, the US and Japan, where the markets are already mature, but also in Asia, South America and Africa, where the system will be supporting sustainable development”.
(Source Avionews)
(050) 070622141626-1075865 (World Aeronautical Press Agency)