What is the RCM?

Launch date: June 12, 2019
Status: Active

The RADARSAT Constellation Mission (RCM) is Canada's new generation of Earth observation satellites. Together, they bring solutions to key challenges for Canadians.

The RCM uses a trio of satellites to take daily scans of our country and its waters, collecting invaluable information. This important data helps captains safely navigate through Arctic waters, farmers maximize their crop yields, first responders save lives, and more. (Credit: Canadian Space Agency)

Transcript

Three identical satellites working together

The evolution of the RADARSAT Program, the RCM includes a trio of Earth observation satellites, capable of scanning Earth day or night and in any weather conditions. The three-satellite configuration allows for daily revisits of Canada's vast territory and maritime approaches, as well as daily access to 90% of the world's surface and the Arctic up to four times a day.

This visual provides an overview of the RADARSAT Constellation Mission. (Credit : Canadian Space Agency)

Text version - on the graphic about an overview of the RADARSAT Constellation Mission

The RADARSAT Constellation Mission (RCM) is Canada's new generation of Earth observation satellites. Three identical satellites work together to bring solutions to important challenges for Canadians. They monitor the environment, oceans and ice; detect ships; and support emergency teams during natural disasters. The satellites will be launched aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket in spring 2019. Approximately 250,000 images per year will be used, that is 50 times more than the first generation of RADARSAT. The bus (the body) of each satellite is 3.6 m high, about the height of two average men, by 1.1 m wide. The antenna is 6.98 m wide. The total mass of each of the three satellites at launch is 1,430 kg (approximately the weight of a black rhino). The RCM will orbit Earth at an altitude of 600 km. The satellites will move at 27,200 km/h and take about 96 minutes to circle the globe.

With its capabilities distributed across several small satellites rather than a single large satellite, the RCM boasts a robust, flexible system that costs less to launch and operate.

Learn more about the RCM's components and specifications.

Providing solutions for Canadians

Over a dozen federal government departments already use RADARSAT data to deliver important services to Canadians. The RCM is ensuring the ongoing availability of this data so that the Government of Canada can continue to serve Canadians.

The RCM is designed to provide effective solutions in three main areas:

Maritime surveillance (ice, surface wind, oil pollution and ship monitoring);
Disaster management (mitigation, warning, response and recovery); and
Ecosystem monitoring (agriculture, wetlands, forestry and coastal change monitoring).

RCM data helps Canadian farmers better manage their crops.

In addition to these key areas, there are expected to be a wide range of ad hoc uses of RCM data in many different applications within the public and private sectors, both in Canada and internationally.

For example, while the RCM was initially designed to focus on maritime security requirements, it is dramatically enhancing land security, particularly in the Arctic. The system offers up to four passes per day in Canada's far north, and several passes per day over the Northwest Passage.

The constellation model allows for a more frequent revisit of the same area. This opens the door to a range of applications that are based on regular collection of data and creation of composite images that highlight changes in the same area over time. Such applications are particularly useful for monitoring climate change, land use evolution, coastal change, urban subsidence and even human impacts on local environments.