A constellation of four satellites conceived by the Agenzia Spaziale Italiana and funded by the Italian Ministry of Research and the Italian Ministry of Defense. The four satellites are in Sun-synchronous polar orbits and travel in the same orbital plane. The four satellites (Cosmo 1–4) were launched individually between 2007 and 2010 from Vandenberg Airforce Base and began operating in 2008. The satellites use high-resolution radar sensors to observe the Earth day and night, regardless of weather conditions for the sake of environmental risk prevention, defence strategy and security, and scientific and commercial purposes.