OPTSAT-3000 is an Earth observation program for the Italian Ministry of Defense. 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 defense entities to acquire and use high-resolution images from any part of the globe.
The OPTSAT-3000 system is supplied by the prime contractor Telespazio, a joint venture between Leonardo (67%) and Thales (33%). Telespazio is responsible for the entire system, including the satellite, ground segment, launch and early orbital operations, preparation and execution of operations and logistics, in-orbit tests and commissioning.
The satellite and ground control systems were built by Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), chosen by the Italian Ministry of Defense on the basis of an inter-governmental agreement between Italy and Israel. OHB Italia is responsible for the launch services and related engineering support.
The OPTSAT-3000 system will be inter-operable with Italy’s second-generation COSMO-SkyMed radar satellites. This will give the Italian Defense 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.
OPTSAT-3000 is a three-axis stabilized satellite, highly autonomous and combining reduced weight, low power consumption, and high reliability.
The satellite features:
- High resolution,
- High-precision geolocation,
- High-quality images,
- Reduced weight, which allows a wide range of launch options,
- High agility, thanks to the satellite’s reduced weight and small size. This means low inertia, which in turn allows the acquisition of a large number of images,
- Design life exceeding seven years.
The ground segment includes facilities in Fucino, CITS in Pratica di Mare, MBT in Tel Aviv and CIGC in Vigna di Valle.