The multimission COSMO-SkyMed di seconda generazione ground segment

COSMO-SkyMed di Seconda Generazione (COSMO-SkyMed Second Generation, CSG) is an “end-to-end” satellite system for Earth Observation composed of two mid-sized satellites placed in Low Earth Orbit and embarking a high resolution X-band Synthetic Aperture Radar. CSG is the second generation mission after the successful COSMO SkyMed (CSK). It will assure operational continuity with CSK, with seamless transition and performance improvement in terms of products resolution, innovative sensing modes, higher number of images, platform agility and minimization of the operative costs. Both CSK and CSG are referred as “dual use” since they are designed to satisfy the needs of two different macro-classes of users (Civilian and Defence), each one having different requirements in terms of product clearance, response time, data accuracy, infrastructures and operative needs. The CSG System consists of a Space Segment (SS, that is the constellation of satellites); a Ground Segment (GS) and an Integrated Logistics & Operations Segment (ILS&OPS, including all resources and services to cover the whole lifetime). The CSG GS is based on a multi-center and dual use architecture geographically distributed over a wide scale, including Fucino (S-band station), Matera (X-band station), Pratica di Mare (X-band station) and the foreign stations of Cordoba and Kiruna (X- and S-band stations). CSG primary mission objective is to promptly and effectively satisfy the heterogeneous user needs (institutional, scientific and commercial purposes) providing the Users with several end-to-end services ranging from a new SAR image acquisition to image processing and distribution. The improvement of the CSG GS w.r.t. the CSK one consists in the ability to handle and treat a massive amount of service requests, to process and obtain advanced products in short response time and with a specific timing. This responds to the improvement of the Space Segment, in its time responding to the demand of new products and services defined by Defence and Civilian Users. The CSG GS will be able to encompass the CSK GS, therefore they will be considered as a single unique system, having the following main characteristics: an integrated operative environment; a common set of generalized services; an integrated management of the available resources. The improvements, implemented by CSG, will allow to manage integrated the two constellations through the development of a Multi-Sensor Interfacing User Ground Segment (MSI-UGS) consisting in a common layer for the exploitation of the System. At subsystem level the CSG Interface Management will be the core of the MSI-UGS, providing functionalities like system log-in, service request definition, submission, feasibility analysis, ranking, harmonization and monitoring; CSG Feasibility and Planning implement improved feasibility, ranking, harmonization and planning strategies w.r.t. the CSK GS; Production Manager and processor chains are devoted to generate, archive and deliver the products requested, improving the processes already implemented for CSK. © 2016 by the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Inc. All rights reserved.