On August 1st, at 10.58 pm local time in French Guiana, the Earth Observation satellite OPTSAT-3000 was launched on board the VEGA flight VV10 from Kourou, French Guiana.
OPTSAT-3000 is an Earth observation program for the Italian Ministry of Defence. It comprises a high-resolution optical satellite and a ground segment for in-orbit control, mission planning and the acquisition and processing of images. OPTSAT-3000 will allow national defence entities to acquire and use high-resolution images from any part of the globe. The OPTSAT-3000 system will be interoperable with Italy’s second –generation COSMO-SkyMed radar satellites.
This will give the Italian Defence Ministry access to state-of-the-art technology, and ensure maximum operational capabilities because of the combined optical and radar data offered by the two systems. The OPTSAT-3000 system was provided by the Prime Contractor Telespazio while the satellite and ground control systems were built by Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), chosen by the Italian Ministry of Defence. OHB Italia was responsible for the launch contract and all the associated engineering activities.
