Vandenberg launched a Delta II rocket carrying the Thales Alenia Space-Italia COSMO-SkyMed Satellite, Friday, Nov. 5, at 7:20 p.m. from Space Launch Complex-2 on North Vandenberg.
This launch is the fourth and final for COSMO-SkyMed.
“This was a critical launch for completing the COSMO-SkyMed constellation and Team Vandenberg performed brilliantly,” said Col. Richard Boltz, 30th Space Wing commander.
The overall objective of the COSMO-SkyMed program is global Earth observation, particularly in the Mediterranean area. Some applications include territorial surveillance; analyzing effects of natural disasters; coastal surveillance to assess erosion and sea/river pollution, monitoring
of farming, forestry resources and urban buildings; mapping with a resolution on the order of one meter; and territorial security and strategic defense.
The three other COSMO-SkyMed satellites were launched from Vandenberg in June 2007, December 2007 and October 2008.
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