IMAGING

Falcon 9 rocket to deliver RADARSAT Constellation to Orbit

Space Exploration Technologies was awarded a launch reservation contract with MacDonald, Dettwiler and Associates Ltd. (MDA) to support the largest space program to date in Canada, carrying the three satellites to orbit that will make up the RADARSAT Constellation Mission (RCM) on a Falcon 9 rocket in 2018. RCM is a three satellite configuration and will support Canada’s need for maritime surveillance, disaster management and ecosystem monitoring. www.spacex.com

Pakistan approves Remote Sensing programme

The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council, Pakistan approved the project of Pakistan Remote Sensing Satellite (PRSS) located in Sindh and Punjab with cost of Rs.19695.0 million. The project is part of National Satellite Development Programme for space technology and its application will be in Pakistan, institutional capacity building of SUPARCO and relevant organizations. www.app.com.pk

First national carbon map using satellite imagery, LiDAR

Researchers have mapped the above ground carbon density throughout the Republic Panama in high resolution. This is the first time when such mapping has been done for an entire country. Researchers integrated field data with satellite imagery and high-resolution airborne Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) data to map the vegetation and to quantify carbon stocks. Researchers from Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute (STRI), McGill University and UC-Berkeley found Panama to be an ideal laboratory to develop and test a method for quantifying aboveground carbon because of its complex landscapes, with variable topography, and diverse ecosystems. They combined ground-based plot sampling, satellite imagery, and LiDAR measurements from the Carnegie Airborne Observatory to carry out the project. The new system, described in Carbon Balance and Management, will greatly boost conservation and efforts to mitigate climate change through carbon sequestration. http://cao.ciw.edu/

Satellite imagery has revealed that Saudi Arabia is targeting Israel and Iran

Saudi Arabia doesn’t have formal ties with Israel and treats Iran as enemy too. The satellite pictures show a previously undisclosed surface-tosurface missile base in the middle of the Saudi desert, the Telegraph reported. Analysts say they saw in the images at least two launch pads — one pointing toward Tel Aviv and another toward Tehran. www.washingtontimes.com

UAE contract to Astrium and Thales

The United Arab Emirates Armed Forces on July 22 contracted with Astrium Satellites and Thales Alenia Space of France to provide the twosatellite Falcon Eye high-resolution optical reconnaissance system.

It includes the construction of two satellites weighing less than 1,500 kilograms each; their separate launches in late 2017 and early 2018.

Industry officials said that they would use the same satellite platform as the French government’s two Pleiades satellites, which operate in 700-kilometer polar low Earth orbits.

Thales Alenia Space will be providing the Falcon Eye imaging payload, with Astrium Satellites building the platform. Both companies said their hardware would be upgraded versions of what they built for Pleiades.

The contract was signed in Abu Dhabi during a ceremony presided over by Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the UAE crown prince, who is also head of the UAE armed forces; and by Jean-Yves Le Drian, the French defense minister. www.spacenews.com