RADARSAT satellites: Technical comparison

The RADARSAT Constellation is a trio of Earth observation satellites and is the evolution of Canada's RADARSAT Program. Its objective is to ensure C-band data continuity, enhanced operational use of synthetic aperture radar (SAR) data and improved system reliability over the next decade.

Contrary to RADARSAT-2, the RADARSAT Constellation is equipped with an Automated Identification System (AIS) for ships. It can used independently or in conjunction with the radar, allowing improved detection and tracking of vessels of interest.

The comparative tables and infographics below set out the system characteristics and beam modes of the RADARSAT satellites.

System characteristics

General


	RADARSAT-1	RADARSAT-2	RADARSAT Constellation
Owner	Government of Canada	MDA	Government of Canada
Launch	November 4, 1995	December 14, 2007	June 12, 2019
Status	Inactive	Active	Active
High resolution	8 m × 8 m (stripmap mode)	1 m × 3 m (spotlight mode)	1 m × 3 m (spotlight mode)
Total mass at launch	2,750 kg	2,200 kg	1,400 kg
Mission life	5 years	7 years	7 years (each satellite)
SAR antenna dimensions	15 m × 1.5 m	15 m × 1.5 m	6.75 m × 1.38 m
Solar arrays (each)	2.21 m × 1.32 m	3.73 m × 1.8 m	2.2 m × 1.7 m main power (one panel vs. two for RADARSAT-1 and RADARSAT-2) 0.5 m × 1.6 m (keep-alive power)
Bus	3.55 m × 2.46 m	3.7 m × 1.36 m	3.6 m × 1.1 m
Look direction	Right-looking	Routine left- and right-looking operation Increased re-visit time for improved monitoring efficiencies	Right-looking Multiple satellites will eliminate the need for left- and right-looking to increase revisit

Orbit


	RADARSAT-1	RADARSAT-2	RADARSAT Constellation
Altitude	793–821 km	798 km	586–615 km
Inclination	98.6 degrees	98.6 degrees	97.74 degrees
Duration of one orbit	100.7 min	100.7 min	96.4 min
Descending node	6 hours	6 hours	6 h +/- 15 minutes
Ascending node	18 hours	18 hours	18 h +/- 15 minutes
Sun-synchronous	14.29 orbits per day (14 7/24)	14.29 orbits per day (14 7/24)	14.92 orbits per day (14 11/12)

Radar


	RADARSAT-1	RADARSAT-2	RADARSAT Constellation
Active antenna	C-Band	C-Band	C-Band
Centre frequency	5.3 GHz	5.405 GHz	5.405 GHz
Bandwidth	30 MHz	100 MHz	100 MHz
Polarization	HH	HH, VV, HV, VH	HH, VV, HV, VH, Compact Polarimetry
Polarization isolation	> 20 dB	> 25 dB	> 30 dB
Aperture length	15 m	15 m	6.75 m
Aperture width	1.5 m	1.37 m	1.38 m
Mass	679 kg	750 kg	400 kg approximate
Deployment mechanism	Extendable support structure (ESS)	ESS	Simple strut deployment with a kinematically decoupled internal support structure

Beam modes

RADARSAT Constellation

Text version of image RADARSAT Constellation Imaging Modes

Credit: Canadian Space Agency


Beam modes	Nominal swath width (km)	Approximate resolution (m)
Low Resolution 100 m	500	100 × 100
Medium Resolution 50 m	350	50 × 50
Medium Resolution 30 m	125	30 × 30
Medium Resolution 16 m	30	16 × 16
High Resolution 5 m	30	5 × 5
Very High Resolution 3 m	20	3 × 3 @ 35°
Low Noise	350	100 × 100
Ship Detection	350	Variable
Spotlight	20 [5 km in azimuth]	1 × 3 @ 35°
Quad-Polarization	20	9 × 9

RADARSAT-2

Text version of image RADARSAT-2 beam modes

Credit: MacDonald Dettwiler & Associates Ltd.


Beam modes	Nominal swath width (km)	Maximal spatial resolution (m)
Selective Single or Dual Polarization Transmit H and/or V, receive H and/or V
Fine	50	8
Wide Fine	150	8
Standard	100	25
Wide	150	25
ScanSAR Narrow	300	50
ScanSAR Wide	500	100
Ocean Surveillance	530	Variable
Polarimetric Transmit H and V on alternate pulses / receive H and V on any pulse
Fine Quad-Pol	25	12
Wide Fine Quad-Pol	50	12
Standard Quad-Pol	25	25
Wide Standard Quad-Pol	50	25
Single Polarization HH Transmit H, receive H
Extended High	75	25
Extended Low	170	60
Selective Single Polarization Transmit H or V, receive H or V
Spotlight	18	1
Ultra-Fine	20	3
Wide Ultra-Fine	50	3
Extra-Fine	125	5
Multi-Look Fine	50	8
Wide Multi-Look Fine	90	8
Ship Detection	450	Variable

RADARSAT-1

Text version of image RADARSAT-1 beam modes