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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