After the Test Readiness Review meeting successfully held in Rome on 11 March 2022, MUSIS (Multinational Space-based Imaging System) programme took an important step forward. After the deployment of the Common Interoperability Layer (CIL) components (coded software, COTS, hardware) on the operational sites, the activities related to sub-components integration and test at system level on the target platforms have officially started.
This step is mandatory in order to achieve the Regular Service Verification (RSV) phase in operational environment and to proceed with the final acceptance of the system.
The idea of a MUltinational Space-based Imaging System was generated with the aim to improve and foster international cooperation related to Earth Observation activities through space based platforms. MUSIS is indeed a federation of systems (i.e. a system of systems) that delivers space-based imaging capabilities to its users resulting with an improvement in the exploitation of systems for remote sensing.
After the successful completion of the Preliminary Definition Phase (“Phase B”) at the end of 2015, on 18/11/2019 the MUSIS Stage 2 contract has been signed between OCCAR-EA, on behalf of MUSIS Partner Nations (Italy and France), and the Industrial Consortium created by Thales Alenia Space – Italy and Airbus Defence and Space.
This contract envisages the development and the production of one Common Interface Layer (CIL) to make interoperable the French Composante Spatiale Optique (CSO) with the Italian Cosmo Sky-Med Second Generation space-based systems. An option for a long-term In-Service Support is also included.
