Article Posted on : - Nov 09, 2010

A Delta II rocket liftsoff with COSMO-SkyMed Satellite from its Space Launch Complex-2 on North Vandenberg.

VANDENBERG AFB (BNS): Vandenberg has successfully launched a United Launch Alliance Delta II rocket carrying the Thales Alenia Space-Italia COSMO-SkyMed Satellite from its Space Launch Complex-2 at North Vandenberg.

The 350th mission has launched the fourth Italian-built Constellation of Small Satellites for Mediterranean Basin Observation (COSMO-SkyMed 4) satellite.

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," Col. Richard Boltz, 30th Space Wing commander, said.

The overall objective of the COSMO-SkyMed programme is global Earth observation, particularly in the Mediterranean area.

The satellite will also look for territorial surveillance, analysing effects of natural disasters, coastal surveillance to assess erosion and sea/river pollution, monitoring of farming, forestry resources and urban buildings and territorial security and strategic defence.

Vandenberg has launched the other three COSMO-SkyMed satellites in June 2007, December 2007 and October 2008.