MDA support expedition to investigate Arctic

15 March 2010, 5:08pm

Richmond, B.C. – MDA’s Information Systems group is pleased to announce that information from its RADARSAT-2 satellite will help guide the Catlin Arctic Survey expedition that includes lead explorer Ann Daniels and an international team of research scientists. The expedition, which is setting out today, will investigate the potential effects of carbon dioxide on the Arctic Ocean. This is the second Caitlin expedition that MDA has supported.

From its vantage point 798 kilometres above the earth, RADARSAT-2 data is charting the way for the three British polar explorers through this challenging and unforgiving terrain. RADARSAT-2 imagery will assist the team in identifying potential hazards and obstacles as they trek over the ice in addition to locating safe sites that will allow aircraft to deliver vital supplies to them. RADARSAT 2 will provide nearly real-time operational information that will give them the bigger picture of ice conditions in the hours and days ahead. On its part, MDA plans to correlate the data collected by the expedition with the RADARSAT imagery to determine the ability of the technology to measure ice thickness.

MDA has a strong history of supporting Arctic surveillance for the Canadian Government using RADARSAT-1 and RADARSAT-2 imagery for daily surveillance of Canada’s Arctic and its ocean passages. The Canadian Ice Service and the Canadian Coast Guard rely heavily on RADARSAT imagery to chart ice conditions to assist ships in route planning and navigation not only in Canada’s high north, but along key transportation corridors such as the St. Lawrence Seaway.

Representing a major enhancement of Canada’s successful RADARSAT program, the federal government recently announced funding in its March 4th Budget for the construction of the RADARSAT Constellation Mission (RCM). RCM is a three-satellite configuration that will further enhance Canada’s ability to ensure its sovereignty and security through space-borne maritime surveillance, including the Northwest Passage.

Photos and updates of the journey at Radarsat

Catlin Arctic Survey expedition

Arctic Survey on Twitter

Geo: International