COSMO-SkyMed Second Generation

COSMO-SkyMed Second Generation (CSG) is ASI's second-generation X-band SAR mission for dual civil and military Earth observation, with the first satellite launched on 2019-12-18.^[1][2] ASI states the system became operational on 2021-01-18.^[1] The constellation is planned as four satellites in a sun-synchronous dawn-dusk orbit at approximately 620 km altitude and 97.8 degree inclination, providing up to 1.5-day revisit; ASI reported three satellites on-orbit as of early 2026.^[1][2] Each spacecraft carries the CSG-SAR X-band instrument with 0.35 to 40 m resolution, 7.3 to 200 km swath, and single, dual, or quad-polarisation modes.^[3] Thales Alenia Space manufactures the satellites and end-to-end system; Telespazio operates the ground segment; e-GEOS distributes products commercially.^[1] CSG supports emergency management, risk monitoring, maritime surveillance, environmental protection, agricultural monitoring, and cartographic applications.^[4][1] WMO sources describe the programme as a series of two satellites yet list CSG-1 through CSG-4; the ASI operator page is used for current four-satellite programme scope.^[2][1]