RADARSAT-2 Ground segment

The two main functions of the Ground Segment are to:

• Allow RADARSAT-1 and 2 data to be ordered, acquired, received, processed, quality-controlled and delivered;
  
  
• Maintain the health and safety of the spacecraft.

RADARSAT-2 will use part of existing RADARSAT-1 Ground Segment, and changes will be made to some elements to meet new RADARSAT-2 requirements and support RADARSAT-1/2 tandem operations.

Direct data reception facilities for RADARSAT-1 now operate in Canada, U.K., China, Japan, Australia, Norway, South Korea, Saudi Arabia, Singapore and Thailand. These countries will be able to maintain their facilities with RADARSAT-2. In addition, portable ground stations can also be used for SAR data receiving and archiving as the minimal diameter size for a ground antenna is three meters with RADARSAT-2 because of higher downlink power.

Requests for SAR data will come to the Order Desks from users around the world. These data requests will be transmitted to the Mission Control System (MCS) for filling either from archived data or newly acquired data from the Spacecraft. The MCS will manage the spacecraft and the ground facilities by scheduling SAR ontimes, mode and look angle selections, solid state recorder usage, receiving stations, processing priorities and calibration activities to meet user requests. On command from the MCS, the spacecraft will transmit the acquired data directly to a receiving facility in Canada, abroad, or to a transportable ground station. The quality of the SAR data delivered will be monitored and controlled.

The following diagram illustrates the functions of the Ground Segment.