COSMOSkyMed
From INVESaTWIKI
CosmoSkyMed
Based on the strategy of the Italian National Space
Plan (PSN), the initial focus was to deploy a system
for environmental observation and natural hazards
mapping for the Mediterranean Basin area. Meanwhile,
the Italian DoD, who is a minor partner in
the use of the French Helios reconnaissance satellite
system, was looking for follow-on capabilities. Modifying
the requirements of the initial X-Band SAR
satellite and launching a strategic alliance with the
French Pleiades programmes, made COSMO now
a dual use system, now co-funded by the Italian
DoD.
The Italian national user studies revealed—similar
to the TerraSAR-X/L system—a need for SAR L-Band
data to generate land mapping and land cover products.
Italy found here a partner in Argentina, which
plans to deploy a two satellite based multipolarimetric
L-Band system called SAOCOM, developed by the
Argentinean space agency CONAE.
The COSMO system will feature 4 fully polarimetric
X-Band satellites . On board data storage
of 300 GBit and 300 Mbps downlink guarantee global
availability of the information to the Italian ground
segment (in cooperation with a northern station). It
is reported that the first satellite shall already be deployed
in 2005 with a completion of the entire constellation
within two years. [1]
References
[1] G.Schreier, S.Dech
"High resolution Earth observation satellites and services in the next decade - A european perspective".
