RADARSAT-2 continuing system operations and performance

Abstract

This paper provides a status report for RADARSAT-2 system operations and performance now that two years of Routine Phase operations have been completed. Experience from the second year of operations is reviewed. System status, performance, and trends are described along with performance and achievements of the RADARSAT-2 operations functional groups. Normal operations now includes increased attention to orbital collision risk avoidance, and the RADARSAT-2 risk mitigation experience is summarized. In addition to meeting and maintaining specified performance requirements for the Routine Phase, the operations team has implemented a number of improvements to both the system and operations to provide enhanced performance. These include reduced tasking latency, enhanced beam modes, and further improved image quality. The improvements are described as part of the evolution of the mission capabilities along with some further planned enhancements.

Sugarcane Productivity Mapping through C-Band and L-Band SAR and Optical Satellite Imagery

“…Geolocation accuracies, defined as the RMSE estimated from point target monitoring, were smaller than 6 m for the relevant beam modes of S1, RS2, and ALOS-2 [44][45][46][47]. The geolocation products of the optical sensors are commonly specified using circular error at the 90th percentile (CE90), which, for LS8 is less than 20 m [48,49], and for the WorldView sensors this is less than 5 m [36,50,51].…”

RADARSAT-2 Mission Operations status

“…The wider swath versions of beam modes reported as in development in 2010 [1] have now become available to clients operationally. These include wider swath versions of Fine, UltraFine, Multi-look Fine, and Quad Polarization modes.…”

“…The spacecraft and ground segment continue to perform well and the operations team have successfully implemented a number of system enhancements and improvements. Performance in system commissioning and the first year of operations was reported at IGARSS 2009 [1], and an update covering the second year of operations and the enhancement program was provided at IGARSS 2010 [2]. This paper provides a status of the system and operations performance, describes significant changes implemented over the last year, and also provides further detail of some of the data and value-added product delivery achievements.…”