BackForward Satellite Programme: RadarSat Constellation Mission 

Programme details
Programme description
  • Three-satellite programme for SAR observation.  Follow-on of RadarSat.  Improvements: more performing instrument, more agile mission, smaller platform.
  • Canadian programme: CSA responsible of development and operations, supported by the private sector.
  • The platforms are actively stabilised over 3 axes.
  • The design life time is 7 years.
  • The satellites exploit sunsynchronous dawn-dusk orbits at 6:00.
  • The 3 satellites are launched at short time intervals, to fly in formation (dephased by 120°) for larger composite swath (thus shorter revisit time), interferometry and redundancy.
  • See detailed description at http://www.asc-csa.gc.ca/eng/satellites/default-eo.asp.
Data circulation
  • Onboard stored data are transmitted to Prince Albert (Saskatchewan), and Gatineau (Quebec).
  • Real-time data are transmitted to several appointed ground stations.
  • Data processing is performed at the Canadian Data Processing Facility (CDPF) in Gatineau, operated by the Geospatial Services of MDA (MacDonald Dettwiler Associates Ltd) (formerly RADARSAT International Ltd).
Agencies CSA
Programme lifetime 2019 - 2026
Associated satellites and instruments

Note: red tag => no longer operational , green tag => operational , blue tag => planned