* Astronomy

Italy Eyes Optical Sats To Complement Radar Data

Italy appears to be the latest example of Europe's inability to come together in space-based surveillance. Although it faces enormous budget pressures, the government is progressing with the purchase of optical imaging satellites on two separate tracks.
The first involves a high-resolution Earth-observation satellite, Opsat, to be built in Israel as part of an offset arrangement in a government-to-government exchange for Tel Aviv's purchase of Alenia Aermacchi jet trainer aircraft.
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