Gallery, videos and animations
Gallery
January 29, 2008
RADARSAT-2 Data and Products © MacDonald, Dettwiler and Associates Ltd. (2008) - All Rights Reserved.
Grenland
This RADARSAT-2 Standard Quad-Pol image shows the northern end of the Sermilik fjord on the east coast of Greenland. The image was acquired December 18, 2007 - four days after launch and is a composite of the three radar data channels (HH, VV, HV) displayed in a red-green-blue colour scheme. The scene is ~ 25km x 50km, with 25m nominal resolution.
The Fenrisgletscher glacier - a large, slow moving valley glacier that feeds into the Sermilik fjord - is visible in the upper right corner of the image. Glaciers in this area produce large volumes of icebergs that flow out to sea.
In the fjord, variations in colour represent different types of sea ice and leads (open water). The use of polarimetric data greatly improves ice edge detection, identification of ice types and ice topography. The information provided can be used for ship navigation, and land / sea ice studies (such as the position of glacier termini to support environmental monitoring).
This image was acquired early in the RADARSAT-2 commissioning phase.
RADARSAT-2 Data and Products © MacDonald, Dettwiler and Associates Ltd. (2008) - All Rights Reserved.
Iqaluit, Nunavut, Canada
In this RADARSAT-2 Fine Quad-Pol image, the community of Iqaluit can be seen on the northern shores of Koojesse inlet - an inlet of Frobisher Bay, southeast Baffin Island. The image was acquired January 7, 2008 and is a composite of the three radar data channels (HH, VV, HV) displayed in a red-green-blue colour scheme. The scene is ~25km x 28km, with 8m nominal resolution.
The Iqaluit airport runway is the dark linear feature located beside the community. For the most part, Frobisher Bay is ice-covered; however due to large tidal variations, areas of open water are visible along the shoreline as well as in the Bay. RADARSAT-2 is an excellent tool for monitoring leads and open water—providing critical information for safety and navigational needs.
The land clearly shows the striations typical of glaciated terrain. High-resolution and polarimetric responses provide information for the detailed mapping of terrain features, surface structure and variations in surface topology.
This image was acquired early in the commissioning phase.
RADARSAT-2 Data and Products © MacDonald, Dettwiler and Associates Ltd. (2008) - All Rights Reserved.
Vancouver, British-Colombia, Canada
This RADARSAT-2 image of Vancouver Lower Mainland, was acquired January 6, 2008 using the Ultra-Fine beam mode, in HH polarization. The scene is ~ 20km x 36km, with 3m resolution. The city of Vancouver is visible in the upper part of the image.
The three subscenes below show the much greater information content provided by high-resolution radar imaging. The first of the three shows five cargo ships in English Bay—structural details of the cargo holds are evident. The bright return from the stern is due to the strong radar response from the superstructure of the ship.
The middle subscene shows the increased detail available of the Vancouver Airport. The thin bright line feature coming in from the right hand side of the subscene is the new rapid transit Canada Line currently under construction for the 2010 Olympics. More information can also be extracted from the airport terminal buildings and loading gates.
The right subscene shows the added detail provided by 3-metre imaging, which enables greater differentiation of the agriculture fields under different management practices and moisture conditions.
This image was acquired early in the commissioning phase, prior to any adjustment of the radar gain settings.
December 14, 2007
December 14, 2007 – RADARSAT-2 lit up the night sky as it was launched successfully into space aboard a Soyuz rocket at 19:17 local time from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. (Photo: Samara Space Centre, Alexey Yakunin)
December 12, 2007
December 12, 2007 – The Soyuz rocket that will carry into orbit the RADARSAT-2 Earth observation satellite is about to be placed on its launch pad at the Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan. (Photo: CSA)
December 12, 2007 – The Soyuz rocket that will carry into orbit the RADARSAT-2 Earth observation satellite is being placed on its launch pad at the Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan. (Photo: CSA)
December 12, 2007 – The Soyuz rocket that will carry the Canadian Earth observation satellite RADARSAT-2 into orbit on Friday December 14, 2007 is now on its launch pad at the Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan. (Photo: CSA)
December 12, 2007 – The Soyuz rocket that will carry the Canadian Earth observation satellite RADARSAT-2 into orbit on Friday December 14, 2007 is now on its launch pad at the Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan. (Photo: CSA)
December 7, 2007
December 7, 2007 – Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan - RADARSAT-2 installation in the Soyuz rocket fairing in preparation for launch. (Photo: CSA)
December 7, 2007 – Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan - RADARSAT-2 installation in the Soyuz rocket fairing in preparation for launch. (Photo: CSA)
December 7, 2007 – Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan - RADARSAT-2 installation in the Soyuz rocket fairing in preparation for launch. (Photo: CSA)
November 20, 2007
November 20, 2007 – The Canadian Earth observation satellite RADARSAT-2 is fuelled with hydrazine at the Baikonur Cosmodrome, in Kazakhstan. The launch of the RADARSAT-2 satellite is scheduled for December 14, 2007.
November 12, 2007
David Florida Laboratory, Canadian Space Agency, Ottawa, November 12, 2007 - The Canadian Earth observation satellite RADARSAT-2, already in its special container, is about to be loaded on the truck that will transport the spacecraft to Ottawa airport.
David Florida Laboratory, Canadian Space Agency, Ottawa, November 12, 2007 - The Canadian Earth observation satellite RADARSAT-2, already in its special container, is loaded on the truck that will transport the spacecraft to Ottawa airport.
Ottawa Airport, November 12, 2007 - The Antonov-224 aircraft which carried the Canadian Earth observation satellite RADARSAT-2 to its Baikonur launch site, in Kazakhstan.
Ottawa Airport, November 12, 2007 - The Canadian Earth observation satellite RADARSAT-2 is loaded aboard the Antonov-224 aircraft which was used to carry the spacecraft to its Baikonur launch site, in Kazakhstan.
Ottawa Airport, November 12, 2007 - The Canadian Earth observation satellite RADARSAT-2 is loaded aboard the Antonov-224 aircraft which was used to carry the spacecraft to its Baikonur launch site, in Kazakhstan.
Ottawa Airport, November 12, 2007 - The Canadian Earth observation satellite RADARSAT-2 is loaded aboard the Antonov-224 aircraft which was used to carry the spacecraft to its Baikonur launch site, in Kazakhstan.
Ottawa Airport, November 12, 2007 - The Canadian Earth observation satellite RADARSAT-2 is loaded aboard the Antonov-224 aircraft which was used to carry the spacecraft to its Baikonur launch site, in Kazakhstan.
Ottawa Airport, November 12, 2007 - The Canadian Earth observation satellite RADARSAT-2 is loaded aboard the Antonov-224 aircraft which was used to carry the spacecraft to its Baikonur launch site, in Kazakhstan.
Ottawa Airport, November 12, 2007 - The RADARSAT-2 container has been loaded aboard the Antonov-224 and the cargo bay door of the aircraft is about to be closed for take-off.
Testing at the David Florida Laboratory
RADARSAT-2 Solar panels deployment testing at the David Florida Laboratory. (Photo: CSA)
RADARSAT-2 SAR antenna deployment testing at the David Florida Laboratory. (Photo: CSA)
RADARSAT-2 thermal qualification testing at the David Florida Laboratory.
(Photo: CSA)
RADARSAT-2 vibration testing at the David Florida Laboratory. (Photo: CSA)

Animation gallery

Videos
December 14, 2007 - Congratulatory audio message from Jean-Yves Le Gall, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Starsem, following the RADARSAT-2 successful launch. (Starsem)
High resolution – (1,0 Mb)
Low resolution – (417 Kb)
Transcription
December 14, 2007 – Successful launch of RADARSAT-2 – RADARSAT-2 lit up the night sky as it was launched successfully into space aboard a Soyuz rocket at 19:17 local time from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. Canada's next-generation commercial radar satellite offers powerful technical advancements that will enhance marine surveillance, ice monitoring, disaster management, environmental monitoring, resource management and mapping in Canada and around the world. (video: CSA).
High resolution – (19,5 Mb)
Low resolution – (1,2 Mb)
December 12, 2007, Baikonur cosmodrome, Kazakhstan – Technicians prepare and install the RADARSAT-2 Canadian Earth observation satellite in the Soyuz rocket fairing. The fairing is then attached to the Fregat upper stage and the rocket transported by train to the launch pad (video: CSA).
High resolution – (80,5 Mb)
Low resolution – (4,7 Mb)

Congratulatory message from Jean-Yves Le Gall
The RADARSAT-2 satellite was successfully separated from the Fregat upper stage and I am very proud to share this great achievement with all of you. This success was made possible thanks to the reliable Soyuz launch vehicle whose flawless performance enabled today’s launch and today’s accomplishment clearly demonstrates our commitment toward our customers MDA and the Canadian Space Agency. So I congratulate each and everyone of you and I would like to express my sincere appreciation to MDA and to the Canadian Space Agency and to my personal friend Mr. Larry Boisvert.