Pre-Launch Activities in Preparation for RADARSAT-2

Abstract:
The RADARSAT-2 mission is rapidly approaching its launch date in late 2006 The world’s most advanced Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) satellite will provide images of the earth’s surface using innovative imaging modes some of which have never before been available on a commercial satellite. The RADARSAT-2 capabilities present new opportunities as well as particular challenges to the Earth Observ ation community. It is expected that the EO community will readily adopt the higher spatial resolution data, but a substantial effort in training and development will be required to take full advantage of the multi-polarization and fully polarimetric data. The CSA, in collaboration with CCRS and MDA, has initiated a suite of activities that began in early 2001 and will continue into the first years of RADARSAT-2 operations. The objective of this colla borative program of activities is to increase knowledge about the use of RADARSAT-2’s extended capabilities. The on-going development work comprises various components being undertaken by the agencies involved such as an extensive airborne mission to produce simulated RADARSAT-2 products and the SOAR Announcement of Opportunity.