Italian-Built Probe Sent Aloft From Vandenberg AFB
A United Launch Alliance Delta II rocket, on behalf of Boeing
Launch Services, successfully launched the third Italian-built
Constellation of Small Satellites for Mediterranean Basin
Observation or COSMO-SkyMed 3 satellite at 7:28 pm, October 24.
ULA successfully launched the first two Cosmo satellites on
Delta II vehicles June 7, 2007 and December 8, 2007.
"ULA is pleased to have successfully launched the third of four
critical Earth observation systems in this series for Boeing and
Thales Alenia Space," said Jim Sponnick, ULA vice president, Delta
Product Line. "With this 43rd successful commercial launch, the
Delta II system continues its record of mission success, which is
unparalleled in the US space industry. This achievement is due to
the hard work of our professional engineers and technicians along
with the tremendous support we receive from our government,
industry, and supplier mission partners. We look forward to many
more Delta II launches in the years ahead."
Blasting off from Space Launch Complex 2, it marked the fifth
successful Delta II vehicle launch procured by Boeing through its
commercial launch business. The ULA Delta II 7420-10 configuration
vehicle featured an ULA first stage booster powered by a Pratt
& Whitney Rocketdyne RS-27A main engine and four Alliant
Techsystems (ATK) strap-on solid rocket boosters. An Aerojet
AJ10-118K engine powered the second stage. The payload was encased
by a 10-foot-diameter composite payload fairing.
ULA began processing the Delta II launch vehicle in Decatur, AL
nearly two years ago. In February, the 1st stage arrived from
Decatur followed by the 2nd stage in August. The vehicle was
erected on its stand at the pad September 16, with solid rocket
booster installation completed September 19. Hundreds of ULA
technicians, engineers, and management worked to prepare the
vehicle for the COSMO-3 mission.
Developed by Thales Alenia Space, Italia for the Italian Space
Agency and the Italian Ministry of Defense, COSMO-3 is the third of
the four COSMO-SkyMed satellites. Each satellite is equipped with a
high-resolution Synthetic Aperture Radar operating in X-band and is
one of a constellation of four radar satellites. The overall
objective of the program is global Earth observation and relevant
data responding to the needs of the military and scientific
community, as well as to the public demand for environmental
control.
Formed in 2006, ULA combines the successful Atlas and Delta
expendable launch vehicle programs offering cost-effective and
reliable launch services to US government customers, including the
Department of Defense, NASA, the National Reconnaissance Office and
other commercial organizations.