Since 1995, Canadians and international users have benefited from the high-resolution imagery captured by three generations of RADARSAT satellites: RADARSAT-1, RADARSAT-2 and the RADARSAT Constellation Mission (RCM). RADARSAT imagery is used for coastal water surveillance, ice formation in shipping lanes, disaster zone observation and ecosystem monitoring. The technology incorporated into these satellites has progressed over the past two decades. Significant technological advancements were made between RADARSAT-1 and its successors: RADARSAT-2 and RCM. The constellation of three RCM satellites has significant differences over its predecessors: RADARSAT-1 and RADARSAT-2. With three equally spaced RCM spacecraft on the same orbital plane, imagery of Canada and large maritime areas of the coasts can now be acquired daily instead of every three days. The orbit of the three RCM satellites is controlled within a 120-m tube in order to provide Coherent Change Detection (CCD) and Differential Interferometric SAR capabilities. The length of the SAR antenna has been reduced from 15 m to 7.5 m and the size of the solar panels and batteries have been reduced significantly because of evolving battery technology and more efficient solar cells. Another significant difference is RCM satellites include Automatic Identification System (AIS) receivers in order to track ship traffic in maritime regions, where the AIS-generated data can be correlated with the SAR images to identify ships of interest. Ground control of all three generations of RADARSAT satellites is based at the Saint-Hubert (SHUB) mission control facility at the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) headquarters at Saint-Hubert, Quebec, Canada. RCM operations are performed at a newly constructed Primary Control Facility (PCF) that includes image order handling, mission planning, flight dynamics, satellite control, image product generation and image quality subsystems. Independent S-band and X-band ground stations have been available for RADARSAT-1 and RADARSAT-2; however, RCM Canadian Ground Stations have been upgraded for simultaneous S-band and X-band communication. In order to receive and process AIS data and augment SAR imagery in Canada's maritime regions, two additional ground terminals have been established by the Canadian Department of National Defence. This paper will compare and contrast the three generations of RADARSAT satellites and provide overviews of their designs. It will also summarize the evolution of the Ground Segment, and how technological advancements and lessons learned have impacted the concept of operations for this new fleet.
Evolution of the Canadian Radarsat Satellites
Springer Aerospace Techn.
16.03.2022
18 pages
Aufsatz/Kapitel (Buch)
Elektronische Ressource
Englisch
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