Operator
Canadian Space Agency (CSA)Manufacturer
Canadian Space Agency (CSA)RCM
6/12/2019
Canada operates the RADARSAT-2 and the RADARSAT Constellation Mission synthetic aperture radar satellites.
Canada’s three-satellite Radarsat Constellation Mission (RCM) was winding down in 2018 and is due for launch in 2018 on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket.
Each Radarsat Constellation Mission satellite weighs 1,430 kg and will be spaced evenly in the same 600-kilometer sun-synchronous orbit.
The rocket’s upper stage deployed the three-satellite Radarsat Constellation Mission about an hour after liftoff.
The Radarsat Constellation Mission constellation is designed to increase revisit times compared with a single satellite.
The Falcon 9 first stage launched the three Radarsat Constellation Mission satellites in June 2019.
A Falcon 9 launch of the Sentinel-6 Michael Freilich ocean science satellite on 2020-11-21 was the first orbital launch from Vandenberg since a Falcon 9 launched the Radarsat Constellation Mission for Canada in 2019-06-01.
Each Radarsat Constellation Mission satellite weighs 1,430 kg.
The RADARSAT Constellation Mission, launched in 2019, uses three radar-imaging satellites to conduct maritime and Arctic surveillance and is equipped with an Automatic Identification System for detection and tracking of ships.
Radarsat-2 and the Radarsat Constellation Mission from Canada are being used to support operational sea-ice monitoring for the Copernicus Marine Environment Monitoring Service.
RADARSAT Constellation Mission imagery is used to support emergency response teams.
RADARSAT Constellation Mission imagery is used to manage natural resources.
The RADARSAT series includes RADARSAT-1 (1995), RADARSAT-2 (2007), and the RADARSAT Constellation Mission (2019).
The RADARSAT series includes RADARSAT-1 launched in 1995, RADARSAT-2 launched in 2007, and the RADARSAT Constellation Mission launched in 2019.
The RADARSAT Constellation Mission (RCM) has a design life that was to end in 2026.
The CSA allocated $44.7 million to MDA Space to purchase long lead item specialized parts for a replenishment satellite for the RADARSAT Constellation Mission (RCM).
The Government of Canada intends to contract MDA Space to build, test, and launch an additional satellite for the RADARSAT Constellation Mission.
The contract for the full RADARSAT Constellation Mission is expected to be awarded in 2026, subject to contract finalization and approvals.
The 2023 funding supports design and development of a replenishment satellite for the RADARSAT Constellation Mission, which comprises three satellites.
Maxar is building a three-satellite Radarsat constellation mission for the Canadian Space Agency scheduled to launch in late 2018.