Space Operations Command (Italy)

{{Infobox military unit

|unit_name= Italian Space Operations Command

|image= 170px

|caption=

|dates= 2020 – present

|country= {{ITA}}

|branch= File:Flag of the Italian Defence minister.svg Ministry of Defence

|type= Joint space command

|Part of =

|role= Space warfare

|size=

|command_structure= Joint Operations Command

|garrison= Rome

|nickname=

|motto= Hic sunt leones ("Here be lions")

|commander1 = Gen. Luca Capasso

|decorations=

|website =

|native_name={{lang|it|Comando delle Operazioni Spaziali}}

}}

The Italian Space Operations Command ({{langx|it|Comando delle Operazioni Spaziali}}, COS) is the joint space command of the Italian Armed Forces.{{cite web|url=https://www.difesaonline.it/mondo-militare/il-garibaldi-lancerà-orbita-satelliti|title=Il Garibaldi lancerà in orbita satelliti|language=it|access-date=2022-02-25|publisher=Difesa Online|date=2021-01-21}} It was established in 2020.

History

At the end of 2019, the General Office for Space was established within the Defence Staff. In June 2020, the Space Operation Command was officially founded and General Luca Capasso was appointed at its head.

The Space Operation Command operates military satellites of Italy, such as Sicral 1B, Sicral 2, Athena-Fidus, OPTSAT-3000 and the COSMO-SkyMed.{{cite web|url=https://aresdifesa.it/the-italian-space-operations-command-is-getting-ready|title=The Italian Space Operations Command is getting ready|date=27 February 2021 }} It is also working together with the Italian Navy to convert the aircraft carrier Giuseppe Garibaldi, which was expected to be dismantled in 2022, into a rocket launch platform.{{cite web|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidaxe/2021/03/17/italys-extra-aircraft-carrier-could-become-a-floating-space-base|title=Italy's Extra Aircraft Carrier Could Become A Floating Space Base|website=Forbes }}

See also

References

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