COSMO-SkyMed-FM3

Description

COSMO-SkyMed-FM3 (CSG-3) is an Italian Earth observation satellite. It is part of the second generation of COSMO-SkyMed (Constellation of Small Satellites for Mediterranean basin observation) satellites, also known as CSG. It is an Earth observation program of the Italian Space Agency (ASI) meant to replace the first generation COSMO-SkyMed system. The 2,230 kg satellite flew due south out of Vandenberg and into a 619 km SSO inclined at 97.86 degrees.

For the second generation, the COSMO-SkyMed constellation has been reduced from four to two spacecraft. The satellites are improved versions of the original design. They utilize an improved version of the Prima Bus. The CSG-SAR (COSMO-SkyMed Second Generation Synthetic Aperture Radar) is also an improved version of the first-generation X-band SAR system. The contract was signed in September 2015. The satellites will operate in the same circular sun-synchronous dawn-dusk orbit as the first-generation satellites with a nominal altitude of 619 km and an inclination of 97.86º. The satellites operate in the same orbital plane.

Following liftoff and stage separation, the booster, B1081, flew on its 21st mission and performed a return-to-launch-site landing at Landing Zone 4 (LZ-4), which is located directly adjacent to SLC-4E. This is Falcon9’s 584th mission and SpaceX’s 611th mission. It is the 1st orbital launch attempt of 2026.