SpaceX's 1st 2026 mission carries an Italian satellite to space
What's the story
SpaceX has kicked off its 2026 campaign with a Falcon 9 rocket launch. The event was scheduled for yesterday at 9:09pm EST (7:39am IST today). The launch took place from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California and carried an Italian Earth-observing satellite into orbit. The mission deployed a COSMO-SkyMed Second Generation satellite into LEO for the Italian Space Agency and Ministry of Defense.
Mission details
COSMO-SkyMed Second Generation satellite launched
The spacecraft will use synthetic aperture radar (SAR) to observe Earth, collecting data day and night, regardless of weather conditions from an altitude of 620km. This is part of a two-satellite network aimed at monitoring Earth for emergency prevention, strategy, scientific and commercial purposes.
Satellite uses
COSMO-SkyMed satellites serve various global applications
The COSMO-SkyMed Second Generation network will provide data on a global scale to support various applications. These include risk management, cartography, forest & environment protection, natural resources exploration, the land management, defense and security, as well as maritime surveillance. The first two satellites in this series were launched in December 2019 atop a Soyuz rocket, and January 2022 on a Falcon 9 respectively.
Launch statistics
SpaceX's record-breaking launches in 2025
Notably, this is the first launch of 2026 not just for SpaceX but also for the international launch community. In 2025, Elon Musk's company had a record-breaking year with a whopping 165 orbital missions, more than any other commercial or governmental entity. It remains to be seen if SpaceX can break its own record this year.