RADARSAT-2 order handling and mission planning

Abstract

The order handling and mission planning functions for the RADARSAT-2 mission have been designed to service worldwide requests for data and services from the Canadian Government, regional partners, network stations, distributors, strategic partners, anchor clients, and direct customers. The objective of the order handling and mission planning functions is to implement a predictable and equitable response to these requests using the available resources in space and on the ground. Persons authorized to place RADARSAT-2 orders are assigned a customer service group, which will control visibility to order details and access to resources. The RADAdcRSAT-1 swath planner geographic planning tool has been enhanced for RADARSAT-2 to provide improved accuracy, enhanced framing options, and support for planning of acquisition alternatives. A service is provided to check acquisition feasibility when an order is submitted to provide rapid feedback. Imaging conflicts for the synthetic aperture radar instrument on the spacecraft are resolved automatically by the system based on priority of the acquisition request. More infrequent resource-usage conflicts such as conflicts with the downlink channels and onboard solid state recorders are resolved by planning operators using flexible planning tools being developed for RADARSAT-2.