RADARSAT-1 AND -2 government calibration activities

This paper examines the calibration activities assumed by the Canadian government within the RADARSAT program, from RADARSAT-1 commissioning in 1996 to the current period, more than one year into the RADARSAT-2 mission. Concepts, operations and results of the RADARSAT-1 calibration plan are reviewed, including the eleven-year image quality measurement history. Government calibration monitoring activities and results for RADARSAT-2 are also presented, indicating that image quality and calibration measurements are better that the specifications.