| Satellite Description
| Data Products
| Data Handling and Distribution
| The Future

Introduction
RADARSAT is an advanced Earth observation satellite project developed by Canada to monitor environmental change and to support resource sustainablility.

With RADARSAT's launch on Nov. 4, 1995, Canada and the world now have access to the first radar satellite system capable of large scale production and timely delivery of data. These data will meet the needs of commercial, government and scientific programs and will provide a new source of reliable and cost-effective data for environmental and resource professionals worldwide.

The RADARSAT project, led by the Canadian Space Agency, builds on the history of achievements in remote sensing and space technologies by the Canada Centre for Remote Sensing (CCRS), part of Natural Resources Canada. With its creation in 1989, the Canadian Space Agency took over the implementation and operation of the RADARSAT project as a key component of the Canadian space program. CCRS continues to participate in the RADARSAT project through the Radar Data Development Program (RDDP) and is responsible for data collection and archiving.

Satellite Description |  | RADARSAT, with a planned lifetime of five years, is equipped with a Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR). The SAR is a powerful microwave instrument that can transmit and receive signals to "see" through clouds, haze, smoke, and darkness, and obtain high quality images of the Earth in all weather at any time. This will provide significant advantages in viewing under conditions that preclude observation by aircraft optical satellites.

Using a single frequency, C-Band, the RADARSAT SAR has the unique ability to shape and steer its radar beam over a 500 kilometre range. Users will have access a variety of beam selections that can image swath from 35 kilometres to 500 kilometres with resolutions from 10 metres to 100 metres respectively. Incidence angles will range from less than 20 degrees to more than 50 degrees.

RADARSAT can provide complete global coverage with the flexibility to support specific requirements. The satellite's orbit is repeated every 24 days. RADARSAT can provide daily coverage of the Arctic, view any part of Canada within three days, and achieve complete coverage at equatorial latitudes every six days using a 500 kilometre wide swath.

Example of one day of RADARSAT SCANSAR Wide coverage. (500km swath) |
|  | Because RADARSAT uses a sun-synchronous orbit, users can repeatedly view a scene at the same local time. Moreover, RADARSAT's dawn-dusk orbit places the satellite's solar arrays in almost continuous sunlight. The major advantage of this orbit is that the RADARSAT SAR primarily relies on solar rather than battery power, providing users with the optimum number of viewing opportunities. Also, RADARSAT can downlink data to ground stations at a different time than other remote sensing satellites, most of which use a mid-morning orbit.

The RADARSAT SAR can capture data for up to 28 minutes and image up to 1.1 million square kilometres of the Earth's surface with each orbit. In order to serve commercial and international users, data is downlinked in real time or stored on one of the two tape recorders until the spacecraft is within range of a receiving station. To satisfy user requirements for timely data, the Canadian Data Processing Facility (CDPF), owned by RSI and located at the Gatineau satellite station,will deliver data to users within hours of scene observation.

Data Products |  | RADARSAT data products will be structured to provide end users with a choice of resolutions and formats. RADARSAT will deliver seven standard data products reflecting the SAR mode options. These will be available in three categories of geometrical fidelity - quick look, georeferenced, and geo-coded/ Quick look will consist of the uncorrected SAR images. Georeferenced products will be geometrically corrected to compensate for the Earth's curvature. RADARSAT's geocoded data products will supply precise positional information to fit standard map projections.

Data will be offered in several formats to suit user needs. These may include Computer Compatible Tape (CCT), films, print, and Image Transfer Network (ITN). CD-ROM, 8 mm tape cartidges and WORM drives will be available as they become industry standards.

Data Handling and Distribution |  | RADARSAT data is downlinked in real time to compatible ground stations. In Canada and the United States, these are located in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan; Gatineau, Quebec; and Fairbanks, Alaska. Additional RADARSAT SAR data reception and processing capability will be added as other countries with ground stations join the RADARSAT international data distribution network.

A private corporation, RADARSAT International, Inc., (RSI), was established in 1989 to process, market and distribute RADARSAT data to Canadian commercial users and to international users. In cooperation with CCRS and CSA, RSI will help research and develop commercial applications, and will negotiate foreign reception and distribution agreements for RADARSAT data. RSI will also pay royalties to the Canadian Space Agency on the commercial sales of RADARSAT data.

The Future |  | The RADARSAT Program continues Canada's tradition of providing world leadership in advancing Earth observation technologies and techniques. With its unparalleled operational flexibility and reliable delivery, RADARSAT will provide high quality and cost-effective data to researchers and environmental professionals world-wide.

To sustain RADARSAT's internationally competitive position, the Canadian Space Agency has prepared a proposal for a follow-on radar satellite program. This enhanced program is expected to further exploit RADARSAT's potential for yielding new environmental and resource information and take Canada's Earth obervation program into the next millennium.

RADARSAT Technical Specifications - Summary RADARSAT Data Products