The Alaska SAR facility: an introduction

Currently there are two synthetic aperture satellites in orbit with the expected addition of two more in the next two years. The European Space Agency has ERS-1 in orbit while expecting to launch ERS-2 in 1994. The Japanese NASDA has JERS-1 in orbit. The Canadian RADARSAT is scheduled to be launched in 1995. For use as part of the Earth Observing System, these satellites are in polar orbits. Some of the satellites do not have an on-board tape recorder so data can only be collected at ground stations within sight of the satellite when it is collecting data. The other satellites can download their on-board tape recorders more frequently using a high latitude station (all polar orbiting satellites are in view of high latitude ground stations more frequently than lower latitude stations). Thus, NASA has funded the development and operation of a ground receiving station, the Alaska SAR Facility (ASF) at the Geophysical Institute of the Univ. of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF). A brief description of the facility including its history, its operations, and its products is presented. Also discussed are the upgrade plans for the near term, i.e., RADARSAT, and the longer term