RADARSAT Constellation Mission / eo constellation
sourcingtypical 4/5 · 14 factsThe RADARSAT Constellation Mission (RCM) is Canada's third generation of Earth observation satellites, launched June 12, 2019 with three identical satellites working together. RCM is the first mission in the RADARSAT program to carry dual payloads, combining a SAR instrument with an Automatic Identification System (AIS) instrument for ship detection. The three satellites cover Canada and areas of interest elsewhere more frequently than earlier RADARSAT missions.
key details
generations
faq
Who operates RADARSAT Constellation Mission?
RADARSAT Constellation Mission is operated by Canadian Space Agency. (source, as of 2026-07-05)
How many RADARSAT Constellation Mission satellites are active on orbit?
CelesTrak's catalog currently tracks 3 objects for RADARSAT Constellation Mission. (source, as of 2026-09-08)
When did RADARSAT Constellation Mission first launch?
RADARSAT Constellation Mission first launched on 2019-06-12. (source, as of 2026-07-05)
imaging modes
facts
sats active (verified) counts objects currently tracked in CelesTrak's catalog for this constellation. It is a tracking count, not an operator claim about satellite health.
orbit
events
timeline
- 20262026-06-24MDA lands $688 million contract to build RCM replenishment satellite (source, as of 2026-07-12)
- 20252025-12-04MDA wins initial $44.7 million contract for RCM replenishment satellite (source, as of 2026-07-12)
- 20232023-10-18Canada announces RADARSAT+ initiative worth $1.012 billion (source, as of 2026-07-12)
- 20192019-12RCM's three satellites become operational, starting data acquisition (source, as of 2026-07-12)
- 2019-06-12RADARSAT Constellation Mission's three satellites launch on SpaceX Falcon 9 (source, as of 2026-07-12)
- 20132013-01MDA contracted to design, build and test RCM's three satellites (source, as of 2026-07-12)
- 20042004-12RADARSAT Constellation Mission wins Cabinet approval, official project start (source, as of 2026-07-12)