The interest of a constellation: The COSMO-SkyMed project

Risk Management and Defence Applications are the drivers for the definition of a dual use Earth Observation System, the COSMO-SkyMed constellation, currently in the middle of Design and Definition Phase (B2). After a summary of key Mission requirements, current system architecture, basic products and related programmatics, the article discusses the suitability of such a system for European Space Surveillance and Intelligence needs.