Radarsat was launched in 1995 and Radarsat-2 is scheduled for launch in 2003. Radarsat carries a configurable C-band SAR: the swath width is adjustable from 35-500 km, with spatial resolutions from 10-100 m respectively, and can have a beam incidance angle from 20-50°. The satellite has a 800-km orbit. Polarization of the SAR is HH. The radar altimeter has 10-cm height resolution. The Radarsat repeat coverage cycle is 6 days.
New Radarsat-2 modes include standard and fine Quad Polarization modes with 28 m and 11 m spatial resolution, respectively. The selective Single Polarization include Triple Fine with 11 m spatial resolution, 11 m x 9 m and Ultra-fine Wide or Narrow with 3 m resolution. These modes give Radarsat-2 a spatial resolution range of 3-100 m. Radarsat-2 will also have a 800-km orbit, but with a 24-day repeat cycle.
Band | Frequency (GHz) | Resolution (m) |
SAR C | 5.3 | 10-300 |
Radarsat data can be searched and ordered through the following: