Countdown for RADARSAT-2 system operations

RADARSAT-1 has been operating for over nine years as the world´s first commercial space-borne synthetic aperture radar (SAR) remote sensing system. RADARSAT-2 provides for a continuation of the RADARSAT-1 services, enhanced performance, new features, and a more commercial approach to both the development and operation of the system. This paper describes some key aspects of the development from an operations perspective along with the system integration and preparation for operations. Following a system operations overview, constraints, driving requirements, and mission characteristics determining the operations concept are described. Operations lessons learned from RADARSAT-1 system development and operation and factored into the RADARSAT-2 approach are summarized. Organizational and technical challenges and solutions for development and system operations are explored using RADARSAT-2 examples. A key challenge is to perform the system integration for RADARSAT-2 without interference to continuing RADARSAT-1 operations. The paper describes the phases, major activities and milestones of the system integration, and key features of the operations preparation for the system components.