SpaceX Launches Italian Radar Satellite in First Orbital Mission of 2026
VANDENBERG SPACE FORCE BASE, Calif. (AP) — SpaceX launched an Italian Earth observation satellite on a Falcon 9 rocket Friday, marking the company's first orbital flight of 2026. The liftoff occurred at 6:09 p.m. PST from Space Launch Complex 4 East at Vandenberg Space Force Base, according to SpaceX and Spaceflight Now.
The Cosmo-SkyMed Second Generation Flight Model 3 satellite serves dual civilian and military purposes, providing radar imagery for Italy's Defense Ministry and Italian Space Agency. Officials said the satellite enhances persistent Earth monitoring independent of weather or daylight conditions.
The 1,700-kilogram satellite separated from the Falcon 9 upper stage about 13 minutes after liftoff into low Earth orbit, Spaceflight Now reported. The launch followed two scrubs in late December due to technical issues, resulting in SpaceX's longest gap between orbital missions in four years at 16 days, according to the outlet and spacetoday.net.
The Falcon 9 first stage, tail number B1081, completed its 21st flight. It previously supported NASA's Crew-7, PACE and TRACERS missions, Spaceflight Now said. The booster landed successfully at Landing Zone 4 approximately 8.5 minutes after liftoff, marking the 31st landing at that site and SpaceX's 554th overall booster recovery.
Italian Defense Minister Guido Crosetto praised the program after the launch. "The Cosmo-SkyMed program is one of the most outstanding examples of cooperation between Defense, the Italian Space Agency, and national industry," Crosetto said in a post on X, as translated by Spaceflight Now. "It is a model of public-private synergy that shows how innovation, research, and development can integrate with security and defense needs, generating strategic value for the Country."
The mission overcame delays from Dec. 27 and Dec. 28. The first scrub occurred 38 minutes before the planned liftoff due to a hydraulic issue with pad hold-down clamps, according to Spaceflight Now. The second attempt required additional time to resolve the problem.
This launch follows SpaceX's record 165 Falcon 9 flights in 2025, spacetoday.net reported. The company paused Starlink missions during the gap, contributing to the extended interval.
CSG-FM3 is the third of four satellites in Italy's Second Generation Cosmo-SkyMed constellation. The system succeeds the first-generation satellites launched between 2007 and 2010, according to Spaceflight Now and Space.com. The European Space Agency provided design context for the satellites, which officials expect to operate for five years.
SpaceX conducted the launch on a southern trajectory from Vandenberg to insert the payload into low Earth orbit. Livestream images from SpaceX confirmed the deployment, Spaceflight Now said.
The satellite supports applications including disaster monitoring and security operations. Italy's Defense Ministry operates the constellation in partnership with the Italian Space Agency, exemplifying international reliance on U.S. commercial launch providers.
No immediate post-deployment status updates were available beyond initial confirmation. SpaceX did not report any anomalies during the flight.
This event highlights SpaceX's reusability achievements, with the booster's 21 flights demonstrating the Falcon 9's reliability. The company's overall landing tally now stands at 554, according to Spaceflight Now.
Broader trends show increasing use of reusable rockets for government payloads. SpaceX's dominance in launches continued from 2025 into 2026 with this mission.
Italian officials view the program as a key asset for national security and civilian needs. The constellation provides radar imagery that operates around the clock.
SpaceX has launched prior Italian satellites, building on its role in Earth observation missions. The company operates from Vandenberg for polar and sun-synchronous orbits.
No contradictions appeared in reports from multiple sources, including Spaceflight Now, spacetoday.net and Space.com. All confirmed the core details of the launch date, time and payload.
The mission aligns with growing Earth observation demands amid geopolitical tensions and climate monitoring requirements. Italy's investment in the constellation underscores its commitment to advanced space capabilities.
SpaceX plans additional launches in 2026, though specifics remain undisclosed. The company achieved its 2025 record without similar extended gaps until December.
Officials from the Italian Space Agency did not provide immediate comments beyond Crosetto's statement. NASA, mentioned in the booster's history, had no direct involvement in this flight.
This launch ends SpaceX's brief hiatus and sets the stage for continued operations. The Falcon 9's performance met expectations, according to available data.
