The RADARSAT Constellation is the evolution of the RADARSAT Program with the objective of ensuring data continuity, improved operational use of Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) and improved system reliability. The three-satellite configuration provides daily revisits of Canada's vast territory and maritime approaches, as well as daily access to 90% of the world's surface.
RCM is tasked solely by the Government of Canada, to acquire data, first and foremost in support of Government of Canada services and needs. RCM data and services contributes to ensuring the safety and security of Canadians; monitoring and protecting the environment; monitoring of climate change; managing Canada’s natural resources; and stimulating innovation, research and economic development.
In addition to these core user areas, there are expected to be a wide range of ad hoc uses of RADARSAT Constellation data in many different applications within the public and private sectors, both in Canada and internationally.
The current data set reflects the acquisition plans that are designed to meet the RCM SAR imaging demands of the Government of Canada. These are being made available publicly in advance of the acquisitions. To meet the data needs of the Government of Canada, acquisitions may be changed without notice.
After their acquisition and processing, the RCM image products listed in the current data set, will be delivered to the Earth Observation Data Management System - EODMS (https://www.eodms-sgdot.nrcan-rncan.gc.ca/index-en.html) portal of Natural Resources Canada. Users can register to the EODMS portal as public users to retrieve the RCM image products. For those requiring a greater access to RCM imagery consisting of product types or spatial resolutions not available to public users: you may apply to upgrade your public account to an ‘RCM external vetted entity’ EODMS user type account.
For more information on this process, please contact the Canadian Space Agency using the information available at the following link : https://www.asc-csa.gc.ca/eng/satellites/radarsat/access-to-data/how-to-become-a-user.asp
Publication frequency :
I. Future acquisition plans are published every two weeks for a two-week window that starts two weeks from the publication date.
As an example, acquisition plan published on April 1st covers acquisitions from April 14 to 27. The next plan is published on April 14th and covers from April 28 to May 11.
II. Past acquisitions plans are published monthly and covers a period of one month from the first to the last day
As an example, acquisition plan published on April 1st covers acquisition made between the March 1 and March 31. The next plan covers the month of April.