spacetoday.net: Canada confirms plans for RADARSAT Constellation mission

Posted: Sat, Jan 12, 2013, 11:15 AM ET (1615 GMT)
RADARSAT Constellation illustration (CSA)

The Canadian Space Agency announced this week that it will press ahead with the country's next-generation radar satellite imaging system, signing a contract with a Canadian firm to build the satellites. The RADARSAT Constellation system will feature three radar imaging satellites in polar orbits to provide shorter revisit times for radar imagery. MacDonald, Dettwiler and Associates (MDA) will build the three satellites under a C$706-million (US$718-million) contract announced January 9. The satellites are slated for launch in 2018 to ensure continuous service with the RADARSAT-2 satellite currently operating. There had been concerns in recent months that the program might be delayed, scaled back, or even cancelled because of funding problems.