SAR Data Center ProjectRADARSAT-1 Antarctic Mapping Project (RAMP) Overview

CSA illustration of the RADARSAT-1 Satellite (above). The SAR antenna shown in gold beneath the satellite is 15 m long and 1.5 m wide.

Carried aloft by a NASA rocket launched from Vandenburg Air Force Base on November 4, 1995, the Canadian Radarsat-1 is equipped with a C-band Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) capable of acquiring high resolution (25 m) images of Earth's surface day or night and under all weather conditions. Along with the attributes familiar to researchers working with SAR data from the European Space Agency's Earth Remote Sensing Satellite and the Japanese Earth Resources Satellite, RADARSAT-1 has enhanced flexibility to collect data using a variety of swath widths, incidence angles and resolutions. Most importantly, for scientists interested in Antarctica, RADARSAT-1 can be maneuvered in orbit to rotate the normally right-looking SAR to a left-looking mode. This 'Antarctic Mode' provides capability for the first time of nearly instantaneous, high-resolution views of the entirety of Antarctica. The first Antarctic Mapping Mission (AMM-1) began on September 9, 1997 and was successfully concluded on October 20, 1997. The second, AMM-2 began on September 3, 2000 and was successfully concluded on November 17, 2000. For both projects, The Ohio State University provides overall project and scientific direction as well as producing final products. The Alaska SAR Facility is responsible for data acquisition and processing signal data to images. The Jet Propulsion Laboratory is responsible for developing acquisition strategies and for data processing system development. Vexcel Corporation is responsible for developing the RADARSAT Antarctic Mapping System used by OSU to create final products. The project is advised by a science team composed of researchers from around the world.

Additional Links

www.asf.alaska.edu
https://vertex.daac.asf.alaska.edu
www.vexcel.com
www.space.gc.ca
www.nasa.gov
http://photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/