A ground-breaking Italian satellite system for Earth observation and disaster prevention is set to blast off from California Thursday.
Rockets on the Boeing launcher have been fuelled and the countdown has started for the launch of COSMO-Skymed, the Italian Space Agency (ASI) said Wednesday.
COSMO's four satellites will use special radar sensors to provide high-resolution pictures in real time and in all visibility conditions, ASI said.
The one-billion-euro programme is the most ambitious project yet undertaken by ASI.
The technology is all-Italian, provided by the aerospace and defence giants Thalese Alenia Space Italia and Telespazio Finmeccanica-Thales.
COSMO will be available for civil and military communities to monitor the Earth's environment and security risks.
Its synthetic aperture radar (SAR) sensors will enable groups to quickly respond to natural disasters like volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, mudslides and floods.
