Page 44 - Italy In Space
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Earth Observation [3]
February 28, 2002. Launch of Envisat ("Environmental Satellite"), the ESA's successor to ERS. At
eight tons, and with 10 instruments aboard, Envisat was the largest civilian Earth observation mission
ever sent. It was active until 8 April 2012.
March 17, 2009. Launch of GOCE (Gravity Field and Steady-State Ocean Circulation Explorer) from
the Plesetsk cosmodrome, carrying a highly sensitive gravity gradiometer able to detect fine density
differences in the Earth‟s crust and oceans. The satellite was implemented by ESA with Thales Alenia
Space (Italy) as Main Contractor. Cover cancelled on Launch Day at Mirnyi with black postmark.
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