The RADARSAT project, led by the Canadian Space Agency (CSA), was built on the development of remote sensing technologies and applications carried out by the Canadian Centre for Remote Sensing (CCRS).
RADARSAT-1
Spaceborne SAR remote sensing took a giant leap forward with the launch of the RADARSAT-1 satellite on 5th November 1995. This was Canada’s first commercial Earth observation satellite.
Although the satellite’s orbit repeat cycle is 24 days, the flexibility of the steerable radar beam gives RADARSAT-1 the ability to image regions much more frequently and to address specific geographic requests for data acquisition. RADARSAT-1’s orbit is optimised for frequent coverage of mid-latitude to polar regions and even at equatorial latitudes, complete coverage can be obtained within six days.
RADARSAT-1 can be captured in both descending mode during the local day and ascending mode during the local night.
Features and Benefits
- RADARSAT-1 transmits and receives radar waves horizontally to the ground target.
- Radar provides an ability to see clearer and distinct detail that optical imagery can overlook.
- Valuable for mapping land structural features such as faults, folds and lineaments.
- Ability to monitor disasters such as oil spills, floods and earthquakes.
- Data captured in both descending mode during local day and ascending mode during local night.
Technical Specifications (RADARSAT-1)
Specification | Details |
Modes | Fine Standard Wide ScanSAR Narrow ScanSAR Wide Extended High Incidence Extended Low Incidence |
Nominal resolution | Fine: 8m Standard: 30m Wide: 30m ScanSAR Narrow: 50m ScanSAR Wide: 100m Extended High Incidence: 25m Extended Low Incidence: 30m |
Swath Width | Fine: 50km Standard: 100km Wide: 150km ScanSAR Narrow: 300km ScanSAR Wide: 500km Extended High Incidence: 75km Extended Low Incidence: 175km |
Incidence Angle | Fine: 37-48 degrees Standard: 20-49 degrees Wide: 20-45 degrees ScanSAR Narrow: 20-46 degrees ScanSAR Wide: 20-49 degrees Extended High Incidence: 40-59 degrees Extended Low Incidence: 10-23 degrees |
Band | C-Band |
Polarisation | HH |
Nominal Look Direction | Right |
RADARSAT-2
RADARSAT-2, Canada’s next generation commercial SAR satellite, was launched on 14th December 2007 and constructed under a collaboration between the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) and MacDonald, Dettwiler and Associates Ltd (MDA).
Like RADARSAT-1, RADARSAT-2 can be captured in both descending mode during the local day and ascending mode during the local night.
Figure Above: Comparison of RADARSAT-1 & RADARSAT-2 transmission and receiving planes (ResearchGate 2015).
Features and Benefits
- RADARSAT-2 can transmit and receive waves in in the horizontal and vertical polarization plains. This allows for calculation of the phase.
- Further enhanced accuracy and detail of radar imagery following from RADARSAT-1.
- Advanced C-band.
- Ultra-Fine and ScanSAR Wide swathing.
- Can benefit the management and monitoring of ice, marine environment, disasters, hydrology, mapping, geology, agriculture and forestry.
- Reduces planning times for data acquisition.
- Data captured in both descending mode during local day and ascending mode during local night.
Technical Specifications (RADARSAT-2)
Specification | Details |
Modes Single Polarisation only (HH or HV or VH or VV)
Single (HH or VH or HV or VV) or Dual Polarisation (HH + HV or VH + VV)
Quad Polarisation (HH + HV + VH +VV) |
Spotlight Ultra-Fine Wide Ultra-Fine Extra-Fine Multi-Look Fine Wide Multi-Look Fine Ship Detection
Fine Wide Fine Standard Wide ScanSAR Narrow ScanSAR Wide Ocean Surveillance Extended High Incidence Extended Low Incidence
Fine Quad-Pol Wide Fine Quad-Pol Standard Quad-Pol Wide Standard Quad-Pol |
Nominal Resolution Single Polarisation only (HH or HV or VH or VV)
Single (HH or VH or HV or VV) or Dual Polarisation (HH + HV or VH + VV)
Quad Polarisation (HH + HV + VH +VV) |
Spotlight: 1m Ultra Fine: 3m Wide Ultra Fine: 3m Extra Fine: 5m Multi-Look Fine: 8m Wide Multi-Look Fine: 8m Ship Detection: Variable
Fine: 8m Wide Fine: 8m Standard: 25m Wide: 25m ScanSAR Narrow: 50m ScanSAR Wide: 100m Ocean Surveillance: Variable Extended High Incidence: 25m Extended Low Incidence: 60m
Fine Quad-Pol: 12m Wide Fine Quad-Pol: 12m Standard Quad-Pol: 25m Wide Standard Quad-Pol: 25m
|
Nominal Swatch Width Single Polarisation only (HH or HV or VH or VV)
Single (HH or VH or HV or VV) or Dual Polarisation (HH + HV or VH + VV)
Quad Polarisation (HH + HV + VH +VV) |
Spotlight: 18km Ultra-Fine: 20km Wide Ultra-Fine : 50km Extra-Fine: 125km Multi-Look Fine: 50km Wide Multi-look Fine: 90km Ship Detection: 450km
Fine: 50km Wide Fine: 150km Standard: 100km Wide: 150km ScanSAR Narrow: 300km ScanSAR Wide: 500km Ocean Surveillance: 530km Extended High Incidence: 75km Extended Low Incidence: 170km
Fine Quad-Pol: 25km Wide Fine Quad-Pol: 50km Standard Quad-Pol: 25km Wide Standard Quad-Pol: 50km |
Incidence Angle | Spotlight: 20-59 degrees Ultra Fine: 20-59 degrees Multi-Look Fine: 30-50 degrees Fine: 37-47 degrees Standard: 24-49 degrees Wide: 20-45 degrees ScanSAR Narrow: 20-46 degrees ScanSAR Wide: 20-46 degrees Extended High Incidence: 49-60 degrees Extended Low Incidence: 10-23 degrees Fine Quad-Polarisation: 18-49 degrees Standard Quad-Polarisation: 18-49 degrees |
Nominal Look Direction | Left and Right |