MDA releases details for its next mission
by CM Staff
The system is also ideal for very large area monitoring applications such as oil spill detection, and includes three dedicated vessel detection modes.
BRAMPTON — MDA Ltd., a provider of advanced technology and services to the rapidly-expanding global space industry, released new details about its next Earth observation (EO) mission. Leveraging RADARSAT technology, the new system will include a large C-band Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) satellite operating in a mid-inclination orbit. Capable of covering a 700 km swath in a single pass, the new system will provide a broad area coverage, changing how, when and what can be seen.
The MDA data and imagery is used to support critical applications including maritime surveillance; environmental and climate change monitoring; sovereignty protection; mining, oil & gas and other critical infrastructure monitoring; forestry management; agriculture and smart farming; and disaster preparation and response, among others.
Maintaining primary imaging modes from RADARSAT-2 but with a 40% larger imaging swath width, the new mission will deliver data and image continuity to MDA customers with faster and new imaging capabilities.
The fully taskable system will operate in a unique mid-inclination orbit, targeting areas of greatest customer interest. With 75% faster tasking, increasing revisit and reducing delivery time, the system will also offer Near Real Time service with download times direct to commercial customers in 15 minutes in targeted areas.
The system is also ideal for very large area monitoring applications such as oil spill detection, and includes three dedicated vessel detection modes, three Stripmap Modes (8m, 5m and 3m), and a Spotlight mode.
The new system lowers the barrier for commercial customers to access analytics-ready SAR data through cloud-based infrastructure with affordable subscription-based services requiring no up-front capital investment.
The program is currently in the design and development phase. Next level details including the launch date and full industrial team will be announced in the coming months.
“For decades, governments, commercial and institutional customers worldwide have counted on MDA’s Earth observation data to tackle some of the world’s biggest issues including national sovereignty and maritime border protection, illegal fishing, natural disasters and the effects of climate change. Leveraging the latest innovation and scientific advancements to provide a new level of real-time and actionable insight, our 4th generation Earth observation satellite will once again change how and when we see our planet.” said Mike Greenley, Chief Executive Officer, MDA.
