The Evolution of Earth Observation in Canada - A Perspective

Luc BrûléDirector General, Space Utilization

Canadian Space Agency

Luc.Brule@asc-csa.gc.ca

IGARSS 2011Vancouver, Canada ● July 24-29, 2011

Outline

• Prevailing trends in EO across the world and in Canada

• What is the Canadian Space Agency doing in EO?

• What does the future hold for Canada?

Prevailing trends • Increasing number of EO missions and countries with EO

capacity• Governments remain the largest users of EO data and

products; their financial support for new EO programs remains essential.

• An essential tool to address environmental –societal questions, but also required for sovereignty and safety purposes

• Enhanced international cooperation• Full and open data sharing• Cheaper, smaller missions with improved technologies

“…to promote the peaceful use and development of space, to advance the knowledge of space through

science and to ensure that space science and technology provide social and economic benefits

for Canadians.”

Canadian Space Agency Mandate

Large landmass (2nd in the world) Low population density Large remote areas Extensive coastlines 20 ecozones (Arctic, prairies, costal

areas, wetland, foothills, etc) Varied geography Resource-based economy (forests,

mining, energy, agriculture) Northern latitudes sensitive to climate

change

Why is EO Important for Canada ?Why is EO Important for Canada ?

Canada’s Main Areas of involvement - Focus on the Priorities of Canadians

• Sovereignty - monitoring the Arctic sea lines and territories

• Safety - navigation in ice-laden waters, disaster management

• Environment - monitoring the health of the ozone layer and the transport of air pollutants

• Climate - understanding the factors controlling the climate, monitoring changes resulting from climate variations

• Resources - contributing to better management of our forests, agriculture, mineral and energy exploration.

What is the CSA doing in EO ?

• Enabling research in EO

• Developing, Implementing and Operating EO Missions

• Using EO Data for the benefit of Canadians

Enabling EO: Preparing the Future

• Leadership and support for the development of new concepts leading to CSA or international EO space instruments and missions, to develop and enhance the knowledge and technology base

• Fostering the participation of Canadian scientists and industry to international and Canadian EO missions

• Participation in the European Space Agency EO Program

• Leadership and support for the development of new concepts leading to CSA or international EO space instruments and missions, to develop and enhance the knowledge and technology base

• Fostering the participation of Canadian scientists and industry to international and Canadian EO missions

• Participation in the European Space Agency EO Program

Aurora

Borealis

Aurora

Borealis

Committed to Providing RADARSAT Data Continuity

1995: RADARSAT-1

2007: RADARSAT-2

2015: 2016: 2016:

RCM

International Charter

2011 Earthquakein Japan

Flood detection withRADARSAT-2 crisis image

(March 12, 2011) and RADARSAT-1 pre-crisis image

(March 26, 2006)

RADARSAT Constellation (RCM)

• The three-satellite configuration will provide complete coverage of Canada's land and oceans offering an average daily revisit, as well as daily access to 95% of the world to Canadian and International users

• The RADARSAT Constellation mission is being designed for:

• Maritime surveillance

• Disaster management

• Ecosystem monitoring

• Collaboration with International Partners’ missions

• CSA-ESA cooperation is on-going to explore synergies between Sentinel-1

• RCM – Sentinel-1 collaboration will bring strong benefits to users

• Here are examples of interoperability items being explored:

• Joint / integrated pre-defined observation plans• Harmonisation of catalogue interface• Shared ground segment facilities

Synergy Sentinel-1 / RCM

PolarSat

Status: Currently in Concept Study Phase• The Polar Communications and Weather (PCW) mission is to put

two satellites in a highly elliptical orbit over the North Pole to provide reliable and Continuous 24/7 communication services and monitor weather and climate changes in the entire Arctic region

SCISAT

Other Earth-observation satellites

• International satellites with Canadian instruments/ collaboration

• ENVISAT (ESA)

• CLOUDSAT (NASA)

• MOPITT on TERRA (NASA)

• Aquarius SAC-D (Argentina)

• Upcoming satellites

• SMAP (NASA) – 2014

• Swarm (ESA) - 2012

EO Applications Programs: Promoting the Use of EO Data

“…to ensure Canadians will benefit from the use of satellite data "

• Earth Observation Applications Development Program (EOADP) to stimulate Industry

• Government Related Initiatives Program (GRIP)• Scientific and Operational Applications Research

(SOAR) to support Academia and collaborations

What does the future hold for Canada?

• EO will be instrumental in addressing national priorities

• Canada committed to be a world leader in key EO niche technologies and a source of entrepreneurial innovation and creativity.

• Canada will remain a reliable partner and promote increased cooperation among nations

Merci

Thank you

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