Vandenberg AFB, CA…SpaceX has launched is June 12 launch of RADARSAT Constellation Mission from Space Launch Complex 4E (SLC-4E) at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California. Falcon 9’s first stage for launch of RADARSAT Constellation Mission previously supported Crew Dragon’s first demonstration mission in March 2019. Following stage separation, Falcon 9’s first stage returned to land on SpaceX’s Landing Zone 4 (LZ-4) at Vandenberg Air Force Base.

PAYLOAD
The RADARSAT Constellation Mission (RCM) is the evolution of the
RADARSAT Program and builds on Canada’s expertise and leadership in Earth
observation from space. It consists of three identical C-band Synthetic Aperture
Radar (SAR) Earth observation satellites.

Built by MDA, a Maxar company, the three-satellite configuration of the RCM
will provide daily revisits of Canada’s vast territory and maritime approaches,
including the Arctic up to 4 times a day, as well as daily access to any point of
90% of the world’s surface.

The RCM will support the Government of Canada in delivering responsive and
cost-effective services to meet Canadian needs in areas like maritime
surveillance, ecosystem and climate change monitoring, and helping disaster
relief efforts. For example:

 The RCM will help create precise sea ice maps of Canada’s oceans
and the Great Lakes to facilitate navigation and commercial maritime
transportation. Each satellite also carries an Automatic Identification
System receiver, allowing improved detection and tracking of vessels of
interest.

 The highly accurate data collected by RCM will enable farmers to
maximize crop yields while reducing energy consumption and the use
of potential pollutants.

 Like RADARSAT-2, the RCM will support relief efforts by providing
images of areas affected by disasters to help organize emergency
response efforts and protect the local population.