Deployment Sequence

A Step-By-Step Description

1. Release and Stabilization
   
   RADARSAT-2 will be launched on a Soyuz launch vehicle and will be placed in a sun-synchronous orbit at an altitude of approximately 800 kilometers. A stabilization stage will start automatically once the spacecraft separates from the launch vehicle. Spacecraft initialization consists of switching on sensors: Global Positioning System, Magnetometer, Gyro and Sun Sensor. At launcher release, the spacecraft will autonomously recognize its angular rate, damp it and acquire controlled attitude. Upon success of de-spin and first sun acquisition, RADARSAT-2 will start to acquire a coarse stable three-axes attitude. This process should take two or three orbits.
   
   

2. Solar Arrays Deployment
   
   Following the spacecraft’s stabilization, the Solar Arrays will be deployed by ground command. The Solar Arrays will be deployed one at a time. The deployment will not exceed five minutes for each wing.
   
   

3. Antenna Tie-Downs Release and SAR Antenna Deployment
   
   The antenna tie-downs will be released automatically or by ground command. Then the Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) antenna will be deployed by ground command. The SAR wings will be released one at a time, and the deployment should not exceed five minutes for each wing.
   
   

4. Imaging State
   
   RADARSAT-2 will be able to switch from right- to left-looking mode. This process will take about 10 minutes. About 75 percent of imaging will be performed in right-looking mode. The left-looking mode will be used for Antarctic mapping, emergency situations and to improve market access. Several imaging modes are available with RADARSAT-2 (incidence angles, resolution and polarization). A single image take may vary from a minimum of five seconds to a maximum of 28 minutes.