At the start of 2026, Italy reinforced its role as a space technology leader through a high-profile collaboration with the United States, marked by the launch of a new Italian Earth-observation satellite from California.
The mission lifted off from Vandenberg Space Force Base aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, underlining how Italian engineering and American launch capabilities are increasingly interconnected in strategic space projects.
The satellite is part of the COSMO-SkyMed Second Generation program, one of Italy’s flagship space initiatives. Developed under the coordination of the Italian Space Agency and the Ministry of Defense, the constellation is designed to provide constant, high-resolution monitoring of Earth using synthetic aperture radar technology. This system allows observation day and night, regardless of weather conditions, offering a decisive advantage for environmental monitoring, security operations, and emergency response.
Weighing about 1,700 kilograms, the newly launched satellite will operate in low Earth orbit and is expected to have a minimum operational life of five years. Once fully commissioned, it will contribute to a network that already delivers millions of images and data products each year to public institutions and commercial users. Italian ground stations will manage operations, ensuring that the technological and scientific know-how remains firmly rooted in Italy.
The American contribution is equally central. SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket, now a symbol of reusable launch systems, completed another successful mission with a booster that has flown more than 20 times. This efficiency helps reduce launch costs and enables international partners like Italy to access space more frequently and reliably.
Beyond the technical aspects, the mission carries strong symbolic value. It reflects a shared vision between Italy and the United States, where public institutions and private companies collaborate across borders. Italian firms such as Thales Alenia Space and Telespazio worked within an industrial framework that integrates seamlessly with U.S. infrastructure.
This project highlights a modern form of Italianità in space – innovation, precision, and long-term vision – combined with American launch expertise. Together, they demonstrate how transatlantic cooperation can turn complex scientific ambitions into operational reality, strengthening both countries’ presence in the global space economy.
