Early images from the RADARSAT synthetic aperture radar

The Canadian RADARSAT satellite was launched in Autumn 1995, and its synthetic aperture radar (SAR) instrument took its first image 24 days later. This paper presents results obtained from SAR imaging during the Commissioning Phase and early in the Operational Phase. The RADARSAT SAR has been designed to be very versatile in its operations, producing data in a wide range of different modes. Selected images are included in this paper which both illustrate these capabilities and show interesting imaging features. The information presented covers the full range of imaging options from Fine Resolution Beams to the very wide coverage ScanSAR modes.