Mission type | Earth observation satellites |
---|---|
Operator | Canadian Space Agency |
Website | asc-csa |
Mission duration | 7 years (each satellite) [1] |
Spacecraft properties | |
Bus | Canadian SmallSat Bus [1] |
Manufacturer | MDA |
Launch mass | 4,200 kg (total mass of the 3 satellites) [1] |
Start of mission | |
Launch date | 12 June 2019 [2] |
Rocket | Falcon 9 |
Contractor | SpaceX |
Orbital parameters | |
Reference system | Geocentric |
Regime | Sun-synchronous orbit |
Altitude | 600 km |
Inclination | 97.74° [1] |
Period | 96.4 min |
Transponders | |
Band | C band |
Frequency | 5.405 GHz |
Bandwidth | 100 MHz |
The RADARSAT Constellation Mission (RCM) is a three-spacecraft fleet of Earth observation satellites operated by the Canadian Space Agency. The RCM's goal is to provide data for climate research and commercial applications including oil exploration, fishing, shipping, etc. [3] With satellites smaller than RADARSAT-2, [4] the RCM will provide new applications—made possible through the constellation approach—as well as continuing to provide C-band radar data to RADARSAT-2 users. [5] One of its most significant improvements is in its operational use of synthetic-aperture radar (SAR) data. [6] The primary goal of RCM is to provide continuous C-band SAR data to RADARSAT-2 users, as SAR imagery at a high temporal resolution is required by several users in the Canadian government. [6] Other improvements include more frequent area coverage of Canada and reduced risk of a service interruption. [7] The RCM will provide the world's most advanced, comprehensive method of maintaining Arctic sovereignty, conducting coastal surveillance, and ensuring maritime security. [8]
The three satellites were launched on 12 June 2019 at 14:17 UTC on board a Falcon 9 rocket. [2] [9] Originally booster B1050 was planned to be used for this mission. However, after the failed landing of B1050, B1051 was used in this mission. [10]
Working alongside industry partners, the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) is in charge of mission planning and operations from their headquarters in Saint-Hubert, Quebec. [11] The project was accepted given these three objectives would be met: deliver C-band data to users within the Canadian government, produce daily coverage for ice, ship, and oil spill detection, and meet financial constraints to minimize cost of the program. [6] The Canadian Government will own the satellites and data and will be responsible for its dissemination. Several requirements were established for the RCM by the Canadian government. RCM is required to be able to access 95% of any point on the globe on an average day. It is also required to have a multi-polarization function to increase flexibility in its function, as well as be able to capture subsidence in terrain using Phase Preserving ScanSAR Processing. [6] The RADARSAT Constellation Mission (RCM) includes three identical Earth observation satellites. The prime contractor on the project is MDA and it was designed for three main uses: [12] [13]
RADARSAT collects data mainly from the land surface of Canada and the oceans around the country. [14] Its synthetic aperture radars (SAR) have a mass of 400 kg each, and a resolution of 1 × 3 m. [1] As secondary payload, it includes Automatic Identification System for ships (AIS). [15]
RADARSAT-1 was Canada's first commercial Earth observation satellite. It utilized synthetic aperture radar (SAR) to obtain images of the Earth's surface to manage natural resources and monitor global climate change. As of March 2013, the satellite was declared non-operational and is no longer collecting data.
The Canadian Space Agency is the national space agency of Canada, established in 1990 by the Canadian Space Agency Act. The agency is responsible to the minister of innovation, science, and economic development.
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RADARSAT-2 is a Canadian Space Agency (CSA) Earth observation satellite. It launched on 14 December 2007 aboard a Starsem Soyuz-FG rocket from Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan. The spacecraft is owned by MDA
Space-based radar is space-borne radar systems that may have any of a variety of purposes. A number of Earth-observing radar satellites, such as RADARSAT, have employed synthetic aperture radar (SAR) to obtain terrain and land-cover information about the Earth.
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Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd, or SSTL, is a company involved in the manufacture and operation of small satellites. A spin-off company of the University of Surrey, it is presently wholly owned by Airbus Defence and Space.
RADARSAT is a Canadian remote sensing Earth observation satellite program overseen by the Canadian Space Agency (CSA). The program has consisted of:
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UrtheCast is a Vancouver-based Canadian earth observation company. It produced two cameras on the International Space Station. One of these is a medium resolution camera and the other is the first ultra-high definition video camera in space. The company went public on the Toronto Stock Exchange in June 2013 but was delisted in October 2020 after it filed for creditor protection.
Maritime domain awareness (MDA) is defined by the International Maritime Organization as the effective understanding of anything associated with the maritime domain that could impact the security, safety, economy, or environment. MDA is said to work as a ‘key enabler’ for other maritime security issues, such as anti-piracy patrols, in the way that in order to do effective patrols you need to have the ability of conducting effective MDA. The maritime domain is defined as all areas and things of, on, under, relating to, adjacent to, or bordering on a sea, ocean, or other navigable waterway, including all maritime-related activities, infrastructure, people, cargo, and vessels and other conveyances.
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Heather McNairn, is a federal research scientist at the Ottawa Research and Development Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada. She specializes in remote sensing technology, and her research focuses on the use of Synthetic Aperture Radar satellites (SARs) to monitor the condition of crops and soils.
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