• E-mail
• Print
• Comment
• Font Size
• Digg
• del.icio.us
• Discuss article

Italians Lining Up Russian Space Centre for Observation Satellite Programme

Posted on: Thursday, 27 May 2004, 06:00 CDT

Excerpt from report by Russian news agency ITAR-TASS

Moscow, 27 May: An Italian government delegation is studying the features of the Rokot space launch vehicle at the Plesetsk cosmodrome. ITAR-TASS news agency was told at the northern space centre that the purpose of the Italians' visit is to "study the commercial satellite launch conditions using the Rokot carrier". The delegation includes three representatives of the Italian defence ministry.

The space agency said that Italy is selecting the launch vehicle to deploy its future dual-purpose COSMO Skymed [COnstellation of small Satellites for Mediterranean basin Observation] space system. This system features "high-resolution capability onboard equipment, rapid switching of observations and high-speed delivery of data to users". The system is expected to include four space craft.

The plan is for the ground-based infrastructure of COSMO Skymed to be completed and the first satellite to be launched in June 2005. The entire system will be deployed in 2007.

The Rokot light carrier rocket was converted from the SS-19 (Stiletto) intercontinental ballistic missile. [Passage omitted: technical specifications.]

More News in this Category