ARCHIVED - RPP 2006-2007
The Canadian Space Agency

• Previous Page
• Table of Contents
•  

This page has been archived.

RADARSAT-2

Description

The next generation of Canadian SAR-based satellite, RADARSAT-2, will be the most advanced satellite of its kind in the world. RADARSAT-2 will continue to provide all-weather, day-and-night coverage of the entire globe to support fishing, shipping, oil and gas exploration, offshore drilling, mapping and ocean research. Equipped with a C-band radar system, it will be the first fully commercial SAR satellite to offer multi-polarization, an important aid in identifying a wide variety of surface features and targets. It will also have the capability to image both the right and left with a resolution down to three metres and to access an area of 800 kilometres on either side. This translates into a new range of products and services, which will contribute valuable new information on natural resources and the global environment.

The RADARSAT-2 Major Crown Project, in partnership with MacDonald, Dettwiler and Associates (MDA), is elaborating the design, development, testing, deployment and operations of a space-borne SAR satellite to provide global coverage of terrestrial phenomena as a follow-up to RADARSAT-1. Total project cost, including the launch, is estimated at $521 million, with the government contributing $430 million, and the balance of $91 million provided by MDA.

RADARSAT-2 design and construction improves upon RADARSAT-1, with new capabilities to ensure Canada's continued leadership in the satellite remote sensing global marketplace and to create a commercial industrial satellite remote sensing industry in Canada.

Leading and Participating Departments and Agencies

Sponsoring Agency:	Canadian Space Agency
Contracting Authority for the CSA/MDA Master Agreement:	Canadian Space Agency
Participating Departments:	Natural Resources Canada (Canada Centre for Remote Sensing) Environment Canada Industry Canada Fisheries and Oceans National Defence Foreign Affairs International Trade Agriculture Canada

Prime and Major Sub-Contractors

Prime Contractor: - MacDonald Dettwiler, and Associates (MDA)	- Richmond, British Columbia
Major Sub-Contractors: - EMS Technologies (Now MacDonald Dettwiler, and Associates) - Alenia Aerospazio - AEC Able Engineering Co. - RADARSAT International (RSI) - STARSEM	- Ste.-Anne-de-Bellevue, Quebec - Rome, Italy - Goletta, California - Richmond, British Columbia - Baikonur, Kazakhstan

Major Milestones

The major milestones on Major Crown Projects, by phase, are the following:

Phase	Major Milestones	Date
A and B	Requirement Definition	June 1999
C	System Design	May 2002
D1	Sub-system Construction	September 2005
D2	Integration and Testing	January 2007
E1	Pre-launch Preparations	March 2007
E2	Launch System Commissioning	March 2007 Juin 2007
E3	Operations	2007 to 2014

Progress Report and Explanation of Variances

In June 1994, the government directed the CSA to develop an arrangement with the private sector for the development and operation of a RADARSAT follow-on program to maintain continuity of data following RADARSAT-1. In February 1998, following a formal Request for Proposal, MDA was selected to construct and operate RADARSAT-2.

The CSA and MDA signed a Master Agreement in December 1998 for the RADARSAT-2 mission, under a firm price agreement in which the government contribution was $225 million, in exchange for data. MDA was to invest $80 million. The Master Agreement between the CSA and MDA was updated in January 2000 to reflect changes in the schedule and the latest cost estimates. The company (MDA) is responsible for spacecraft operations and business development, while the CSA is responsible for arranging the launch and maintaining the long-term national archive of RADARSAT-2 data. The CSA will also provide an additional "in-kind" contribution of certain assets, plus the services of its David Florida Laboratory and the NRC Institute of Aerospace Research Laboratory for spacecraft integration and testing.

In November 1998, Treasury Board approved the RADARSAT-2 Major Crown Project with a funding envelope of $242.2 million. In March 2000, Treasury Board approved an increase of $47.1 million to cover the cost of changing bus suppliers, required by U.S. -government restrictions imposed on the U.S. bus supplier at that time, and an increase of $12.3 million for upgrades to existing satellite ground station infrastructures. In June 2000, Treasury Board approved an increase of $108 million to cover the cost of procuring a commercial launch as a result of NASA withdrawing from the agreement to provide launch for RADARSAT-2 in exchange for data, as it did for RADARSAT-1. In June 2001, Treasury Board approved an increase of $6 million to cover the cost of critical modifications to be made to the RADARSAT-2 spacecraft in order to accommodate a potential future tandem mission with RADARSAT-3.

The development of the RADARSAT-2 satellite has progressed, though at a slower pace than planned. Delays encountered by the main contractor and sub-contractors in the production of some of the satellite components have resulted in a significant delay in the assembly, integration and testing of the spacecraft. The Extendible Support Structure (ESS), one of the primary spacecraft sub-systems, was delivered to the Assembly, Integration and Test (AI&T) site at the David Florida Laboratory (DFL) in October 2003. The Solar Arrays and the Bus were delivered to DFL in April and May 2004, respectively. The SAR antenna was delivered in September 2005. The assembly, integration and test of the RADARSAT-2 spacecraft at the David Florida Laboratory, along with the operations-preparations activities at CSA St-Hubert and launch campaign in Baikonur, Kazakhstan, will be completed in time for a launch on a Soyuz rocket in March 2007. The initial phase of the commissioning of RADARSAT-2 is expected to be completed by June 2007.

Any additional costs to complete the construction and launch of RADARSAT-2 will be at the main contractor's expense. However, these additional delays will require that the CSA RADARSAT-2 project office remain operational beyond the time for which funding is available for this purpose, at an additional cost of $1.8 million. This will increase the current estimated total expenditure from $414.6 million to $416.4 million. This risk has been previously indentified and the necessary funding to cover the additional cost has been set aside in the CSA Five Year Risk Assessment and Source of Funds Plan.

Industrial Benefits

Significant industrial benefits in the space and earth observation sector are expected from this next-generation satellite system. The RADARSAT-2 program will generate employment growth in the Canadian knowledge-based economy, mostly from export sales, and spur the growth of small- and medium-sized businesses as the Canadian infrastructure and services industry continues to grow.

A major objective of this project is the transition of the Earth Observation industry from the public sector to the private sector. The intention is to build on the SAR data and value-added markets established with RADARSAT-1 to strengthen the Canadian industry's position as a supplier of SAR-related technology, systems and value-added products and services. Specifically, manufacturing potential and competitiveness will be encouraged in Canadian industry in the areas of phased array antenna design/manufacture, high performance receiver/transmitter design and manufacture, and enhanced structure design. Moreover, opportunities will be created for the export of ground station systems. The new capabilities also make new applications possible, creating new and expanded markets for data sales and value-added products.

As of October 31, 2003, the Canadian Space Program has funded $185.9 million worth of work to Canadian industry directly attributable to the RADARSAT-2 Major Crown Project (MCP). Direct industrial benefits from the construction of the RADARSAT-2 system will benefit all regions of Canada. The regional distribution of direct industrial benefits is shown in the following table.

PROGRAM	British Columbia	Prairie Provinces	Ontario	Quebec	Atlantic	Total Canada
RADARSAT-2	52.1%	0.2%	5.2%	41.9%	0.6%	100%

Note: Due to rounding, decimals may not add up to totals shown.

Summary of Non-Recurring Expenditures ($ in millions) (as of February 2006)

RADARSAT-2	Current Estimated Total Expenditure	Forecast to March 31, 2006	Planned Spending 2006-2007	Future Years
	421.6	389.2	31.7	0.7

10. Details on Transfer Payments Program

CASSIOPE Mission
Start Date: November 1, 2003			End Date: Mars 1, 2009
Description Support the integration of two payloads, the CASCADE telecommunications Ka-band component and the enhanced Polar Outflow Probe (e-POP) scientific instrument, on a single generic Canadian small satellite bus.
Strategic Outcomes Environment and Sustainable Development: A Space Program that helps Canada understand and protect the environment, and develop its resources in a sustainable manner. Strategic Outcomes Knowledge, Innovation and Economy: A Space Program that generates knowledge and pushes innovation, while leading (where appropriate) to increased productivity and economic growth through commercialisation. Strategic Outcomes Sovereignty and Security: A Space Program that supports recognition of Canada's sovereignty and the security of its communities.
Expected Results (Program Activity Level) 1) Satellite Communications: Increased access for Canadians to state-of-the-art space communications systems and services to meet their social and economic needs. 2) Space Science and Explorations: Increased Canadian participation in international astronomy and space exploration opportunities in order to expand the scientific knowledge base made available to Canadian academia and R&D communities. Expected Accomplishments Development and demonstration of the CASCADE Ka-band telecommunications payload designed and built by Canadian companies. CASCADE is the precursor of communication satellite constellations that will help position Canadian industry on the international market as a supplier of advanced components and as a service provider. Development of a small Canadian scientific satellite, the enhanced Polar Outflow Probe (e-POP), which will probe the upper atmosphere and ionosphere region where solar variability influences global change in various time scales. Development of a generic Canadian small satellite bus that could also be used for future Canadian missions.
($ in millions)	Forecast Spending 2005-2006	Planned Spending 2006-2007	Planned Spending 2007-2008	Planned Spending 2008-2009
Space Science and Exploration	3.2	1.8	1.0	0.8
Satellite Communications	14.5	18.0	8.0	2.5
Total Contributions	17.7	19.8	9.0	3.3
Total Program Activity	17.7	19.8	9.0	3.3
Planned Audits & Evaluations	An audit will begin on February 15, 2006

 

Note: This table details contribution programs with funding in excess of $5 million per annum

Contribution to European Space Agency (ESA)
Start Date: January 1, 2000			End Date: December 31, 2009
Description Enhance Canadian industry's technological base and provide access to European markets for value added products and services in the field of Earth Observation (EO) and Telecommunications, allow the participation of Canadian academia and make possible the demonstration of Canadian space technologies in European Science and Exploration missions.
Strategic Outcomes Environment and Sustainable Development: A Space Program that helps Canada understand and protect the environment, and develop its resources in a sustainable manner. Knowledge, Innovation and Economy: A Space Program that generates knowledge and pushes innovation, while leading (where appropriate) to increased productivity and economic growth through commercialisation. Sovereignty and Security: A Space Program that supports recognition of Canada's sovereignty and the security of its communities.
Expected Results (Program Activity Level) 1) Space Based Earth Observation: Delivery, directly or in partnership, of Space Based EO data, products and services in response to operational and scientific user requirements in the field of Environment, Resource and Land Use Management and Security and Foreign Policy, supported by access capacity development. 2) Satellite Communications: Increased access for Canadians to state-of-the-art space communications systems and services to meet their social and economic needs. 3) Space Science and Exploration: Increased Canadian participation in international astronomy and space exploration opportunities in order to expand the scientific knowledge base made available to Canadian academia and R&D communities. Expected Accomplishments Successful development and demonstration of advanced technologies, systems, components, or studies provided for in the contracts awarded by ESA to Canadian firms under the following ESA EO programs: ENVISAT, EOEP/ EOPP, GMES Service Element, and GMES Space Component. Successful development and demonstration of advanced technologies, systems, components, or studies provided for in the contracts awarded by ESA to Canadian firms under the following ESA Telecommunications programs: ARTES 1, 3, 4, 5, 8, Artemis, and GalileoSat. Growing utilisation of data obtained from ESA on markets and Earth Observation/ Telecommunications technologies as strategic information for government departments, agencies and industries in Canada. Demonstration of space-qualified technologies and products developed by Canadian firms for the space exploration markets via our participation to Europe's space exploration program Aurora. Development of new alliances and/or strengthening of established alliances between Canadian and European companies, to diversify Canada's international space partnerships and complement its long-standing relationship with the U.S.
($ in millions)	Forecast Spending 2005-2006	Planned Spending 2006-2007	Planned Spending 2007-2008	Planned Spending 2008-2009
Space Based Earth Observation	13,4	12,4	13,2	7,0
Space Science and Exploration	5,6	2,6	2,6	0,6
Satellite Communications	10,8	8.3	9.8	10.3
Generic space activities in support of EO, SSE & SC		7,0	7,1	6,8
Total Contributions	29,9	30,8	32,7	24,7
Total Program Activity	29,9	30,3	32,7	24,7
&Planned Audits and Evaluations	An audit of the ESA program along with an action plan was completed in 2005. The departmental Audit & Evaluation sector will review the progress achieved against the action plan in January 2006.

 

Note: Due to rounding, decimals may not add up to totals shown.
This table details contribution programs with funding in excess of $5 million per annum.

• Previous Page
• Table of Contents
•