RADARSAT CONSTELLATION MISSION: Toward launch and operations

摘要

This article summarizes the Canadian RADARSAT Constellation Mission (RCM) objectives and operations context. The RCM is the evolution of Canada's RADARSAT Program with the objective of ensuring data continuity, improving operational use of Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) and improving system availability. Another benefit of the constellation lies in the distribution of the sensing capacity over multiple satellites thereby increasing the revisit frequency, especially in the North. The Mission's primary objective is to support the operational requirements of Canadian Government departments. RCM will provide greatly improved operational capability while ensuring SAR observations continue for existing users of RADARSAT-1 and RADARSAT-2 data. With emphasis on the public good applications, the RCM provides the systems and services to user departments who, in turn, deliver service to Canadians through their various mandates. The three main application areas for RCM are maritime surveillance, ecosystem monitoring and disaster management.