DOCSLIB.ORG

David Emerson

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
David Emerson This former high- ranking BC-Social Meet MDA’s David Emerson Credit bureau- any Canadians were not ter- Missile crat, then Liberal ribly surprised when new Defense Minister of In- MConservative Prime Minister As an MDA director, dustry, is now the Stephen Harper, said that his cabinet Emerson must have Conservative included former Liberal MP David been rubbing shoul- Minister of In- Emerson. As Minister of Industry, ders with at least two Emerson was responsible for the Cana- other top executives ternational Trade. dian Space Agency, which oversaw the from Orbital Sci- In 2000, he was a Canada-U.S. RADARSAT project. ences, namely David Director of MDA, Many Canadians are used to the Thompson, Orbital’s the firm benefit- cynical way that self-serving politicians Chair and CEO, and switch allegiances between the Liberal James Thompson, Jr., ing from the Lib- and Conservative parties, since both Orbital’s President eral government’s represent the same corporate interests. and Chief Operating $1.145-billion Few realize however that Emer- Officer.10 Both were RADARSAT pri- son had been on the board of MacDon- on MDA’s board in Seen here being confronted by Haiti 1 vatisation scheme. Solidarity activists, July 10, 2005. ald, Dettwiler and Assoc. (MDA) , the 2000 to keep their Ca- US-owned company that benefited nadian subsidiary on track. rate role in “missile defense,” but the from the Liberal government’s $1.15-bil- At some point, Emerson, the “extent and type of potential opportu- lion RADARSAT-privatisation scheme. corporate lumberman-banker-politician, nities” for Canadian corporations. When Emerson joined MDA in must have realised that MDA’s rocket- August 2000, he was CEO of Canfor, making parent company was a major Conflict of Interest? which describes itself as “the largest contractor for the “missile defense” In the same Hill Times interview, producer of SPF [Spruce, Pine, Balsam weapons program. However, such links Emerson used his platform as Minister 2 Fir] lumber in the world.” (Presumably would not likely have phased Emerson of Industry to unashamedly plug his the firm that cuts down more SPF trees in the least. If he was turned off by work- former company, MDA, by saying: than any other, needs satellite images ing with “missile defense” contractors, “there are some critical companies, to locate the world’s remaining forests.) he would surely never have been ap- with truly leading-edge technol- When appointed to MDA, he pointed Canada’s Industry Minister. ogy.... In my home province of BC, was also the Canadian Pulp and Paper On November 22, 2004, soon for example, MacDonald, Dettwiler 3 Association’s chair. His other posi- after assuming that cabinet post, Otta- and Associates is a world-class tions in the deforestation field have in- wa’s Hill Times reported on Emerson’s space company, making a significant cluded being chair of the Forest Prod- efforts to launch a new Canadian “aero- contribution in the Lower Mainland, 4 ucts Association of Canada. space industry strategy.” The paper as well as to the provincial and na- But Emerson was no mere lum- noted that “Emerson says he supports tional economies.”13 ber baron. He had been Deputy Minis- talks with U.S. on missile defence.”11 Minister Emerson has appeared ter of Finance (1984) under BC’s right- When asked: “Do you think Canada to be in a conflict of interest over other wing Social Credit government. He then should sign on to the U.S. Missile De- matters relating to his former links with rose through the ranks to become fence Shield?” Emerson responded that RADARSAT. When Prof. Michael deputy minister to the Social Credit Pre- the Liberal’s had already: Byers of UBC’s Liu Institute for Global 5 mier, Bill Vander Zalm in 1990. Emerson “announced that Canada would en- Issues, testified before a Parliamentary has held many top-flight corporate ter into discussions with the U.S. Committee regarding Bill C-25 (the “Act posts, including directorships in B.C. about possible participation. I sup- governing the operation of remote 6 Gas and the Telus Corporation, CEO port this process.... As Minister of sensing space systems,” aka the “RA- of the Western and Pacific Bank of Industry, I am aware of the poten- DARSAT Bill”), he said that Emerson: Canada (1986) and president of the B.C. tial industrial cooperation oppor- “is one of the four cabinet sponsors 7 Trade Development Corp. (1990). tunities for Canada associated with of Bill C-25. Committee members Topping off his corporate cre- BMD [Ballistic Missile Defense]. should be aware that in 2000, dentials, Emerson has also been vice We have an active and diverse aero- Emerson served as a member of the chairman of the infamous, big-business space and defence industry in board of directors of MacDonald, lobby group, the Canadian Council of Canada, and we are currently as- Dettwiler Associates, the owner and 8 Chief Executive Officers. sessing the extent and type of po- operator of RADARSAT-2 and the Emerson joined the MDA board tential opportunities for Canadian parent company of RADARSAT In- on the same day as Garrett Pierce, who companies.”12 (Emphasis added.) ternational.... Emerson thus served had just been appointed Executive Vice Note that Emerson did not say the gov- on [MDA’s] board of directors dur- President of MDA’s U.S. parent com- ernment was ‘assessing’ whether or not ing the same year that the company 9 pany, Orbital Sciences. there would be any Canadian corpo- secured $167 million in federal gov- 46 Press for Conversion! (Issue # 58) March 2006 “As Minister of Industry, I am aware ernment funding for RADARSAT-2. of the potential industrial cooperation This was additional funding.”14 opportunities for Canada associated At that point in his testimony, a Liberal with BMD [Ballistic Missile Defense]. MP (Dan McTeague) interrupted Byers to say that his comments “should be We have an active and diverse stricken [from the record]. This is ridicu- aerospace and defence industry in 15 lous.” Byers, however, continued: Canada, and we are currently assessing “As a professor of law and...political science, I’m identifying that there is the extent and type of potential an appearance of bias.... Mr. Emer- opportunities for Canadian companies.” son would serve the purposes of 10. Ibid. this committee if he were to withdraw References 1. MDA media release, “MacDonald, Det- 11. “The Aerospace Policy Briefing,” Hill as one of the four cabinet sponsors Times, Nov. 22-28, 2004. of this bill.... Opposition members of twiler Appoints New Board Members,” August 2, 2000. www.hilltimes.com/policy_briefings/ this committee might wish to recom- www.mdacorporation.com/news/pr/ 112204_pb.pdf 12. Ibid. mend to Mr. Emerson that he avoid pr2000080202.html 13. Ibid. the slightest possibility of an ap- 2. Canfor Wood Products 16 14. “Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs pearance of bias here.” www.canfor.com/products/wood and International Trade, Feb. 22, 2005. Other conflict of interest allega- 3. MDA media release, op. cit. 192.197.82.11/committee/Committee 4. Forest Products Association of Canada, tions have also been made against Publication.aspx?SourceId=125796 Annual Review, 2001. Emerson by the National Union of Pub- 15. Ibid. 17 www.fpac.ca/en/pdfs/annual_review lic and General Employees and Duff 16. Ibid. _2001_E.pdf Conacher of Democracy Watch.18 17. NUPGE media release, “Conflict of in- 5. About David Some might even say it smacks terest written all over offshore B.C. www.davidemerson.ca/about.html ferry deal,” September 19, 2004. of conflict of interest to run a high-pro- 6. MDA media release, op. cit. file election campaign under the Lib- www.nupge.ca/news_2004/n19se04a. 7. The Honourable David Emerson htm eral banner and then, once elected, pm.gc.ca/eng/bio.asp?id=27 18. Charlie Smith, “Investments Allowed,” change parties in order to get a cabinet 8. CCCEO website. Straight Talk, December 2, 2004. post in the Conservative government. www.ceocouncil.ca www.straight.com/content.cfm? 9. MDA media release, op. cit. id=6746 Meet Mark Garneau: Expert on Space, PR and Weapons anadian hero, Mark Garneau, who headed the Cana- dian Space Agency (CSA) from 2001 until late 2005, Cwas probably RADARSAT’s greatest cheerleader calling it the CSA’s “greatest achievement.” Garneau is known as Canada’s first astronaut. Less well-known are his qualifi- cations as a weapons specialist in Canada’s armed forces: 1974-1976: Combat systems engineer aboard “an area air defence destroyer,” Canada’s HMCS Algonquin. 1976-1977: Instructor in naval weapon systems at Cana- dian Forces Fleet School in Halifax. He designed a simulator for training weapons officers to fire missile systems aboard Tribal-class warships. 1977-1980: Project engineer in naval weapon systems. 1981: Helped develop an aircraft-towed target system for scoring the accuracy of naval weapons. www.space.gc.ca 1983: Design authority for naval communications and “Canadians can be proud. RADARSAT is more electronic warfare equipment and systems. than just a satellite—it is a humanitarian 1984: First Canadian in space, as a payload specialist service that Canada provides to its on U.S. Space Shuttle Mission 41-G.. communities... and to the world. It is Canada’s 1989: Retired from the Navy. ‘eye in the sky’ that monitors our land and seas, 1996, 2000: Joined two other Space Shuttle missions. helps us manage our natural resources and Source: Biographical Data, NASA assists those in need when disasters strike.” www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/htmlbios/garneau.html Marc Garneau, Pres., Canadian Space Agency 2006: Lost his bid to become a Liberal MP for the Mon- Source: CSA media release, “Ten Years and over Two Billion Kilome- treal-west riding of Vaudreuil-Soulanges.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • A New Satellite, a New Vision
    A New Satellite, a New Vision For more on RADARSAT-2 Canadian Space Agency Government RADARSAT Data Services 6767 Route de l’Aéroport Saint-Hubert, Quebec J3Y 8Y9 Tel.: 450-926-6452 [email protected] www.asc-csa.gc.ca MDA Geospatial Services 13800 Commerce Parkway Richmond, British Columbia V6V 2J3 Tel.: 604-244-0400 Toll free: 1-888-780-6444 [email protected] www.radarsat2.info Catalogue number ST99-13/2007 ISBN 978-1-100-15640-8 © Her Majesty the Queen in right of Canada, 2010 TNA H E C A D I A N SPA C E A G E N C Y A N D E A R T H O B S E R VAT I O N For a better understanding of our ocean, atmosphere, and land environments and how they interact, we need high-quality data provided by Earth observation satellites. RADARSAT-2 offers commercial and government users one of the world’s most advanced sources of space-borne radar imagery. It is the first commercial radar satellite to offer polarimetry, a capability that aids in identifying a wide variety of surface features and targets. To expand Canada’s technology leadership in Earth observation, the Canadian Space Agency is working with national and international partners on shared objectives to enhance • northern and remote-area surveillance • marine operations and oil spill monitoring • environmental monitoring and natural resource management • security and the protection of sovereignty • emergency and disaster management RADARSAT-2 is the next Canadian Earth observation success story. It is the result of collaboration between the Canadian Space Agency and the company MDA.
    [Show full text]
  • International Space Station Program Mobile Servicing System (MSS) To
    SSP 42004 Revision E Mobile Servicing System (MSS) to User (Generic) Interface Control Document Part I International Space Station Program Revision E, May 22, 1997 Type 1 Approved by NASA National Aeronautics and Space Administration International Space Station Program Johnson Space Center Houston, Texas Contract No. NAS15–10000 SSP 42004, Part 1, Revision E May 22, 1997 REVISION AND HISTORY PAGE REV. DESCRIPTION PUB. DATE C Totally revised Space Station Freedom Document into an International Space Station Alpha Document 03–14–94 D Revision D reference PIRNs 42004–CS–0004A, 42004–NA–0002, 42004–NA–0003, TBD 42004–NA–0004, 42004–NA–0007D, 42004–NA–0008A, 42004–NA–0009C, 42004–NA–0010B, 42004–NA–0013A SSP 42004, Part 1, Revision E May 22, 1997 INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION PROGRAM MOBILE SERVICING SYSTEM TO USER (GENERIC) INTERFACE CONTROL DOCUMENT MAY 22, 1997 CONCURRENCE PREPARED BY: PRINT NAME ORGN SIGNATURE DATE CHECKED BY: PRINT NAME ORGN SIGNATURE DATE SUPERVISED BY (BOEING): PRINT NAME ORGN SIGNATURE DATE SUPERVISED BY (NASA): PRINT NAME ORGN SIGNATURE DATE DQA: PRINT NAME ORGN SIGNATURE DATE i SSP 42004, Part 1, Revision E May 22, 1997 NASA/CSA INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION PROGRAM MOBILE SERVICING SYSTEM (MSS) TO USER INTERFACE CONTROL DOCUMENT MAY 22, 1997 Print Name For NASA DATE Print Name For CSA DATE ii SSP 42004, Part 1, Revision E May 22, 1997 PREFACE SSP 42004, Mobile Servicing System (MSS) to User Interface Control Document (ICD) Part I shall be implemented on all new Program contractual and internal activities and shall be included in any existing contracts through contract changes.
    [Show full text]
  • Core 1..44 Committee (PRISM::Advent3b2 9.00)
    House of Commons CANADA Standing Committee on Industry, Science and Technology INDU Ï NUMBER 024 Ï 2nd SESSION Ï 39th PARLIAMENT EVIDENCE Wednesday, March 5, 2008 Chair Mr. James Rajotte Also available on the Parliament of Canada Web Site at the following address: http://www.parl.gc.ca 1 Standing Committee on Industry, Science and Technology Wednesday, March 5, 2008 Ï (1535) I've been tracking the development of RADARSAT-2 for a [English] number of years and was invited to appear before the House of Commons Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International The Chair (Mr. James Rajotte (Edmonton—Leduc, CPC)): Trade in 2005 to speak about the Remote Sensing Space Systems We'll call this meeting to order. This is the 24th meeting of the Act, which was at that time called Bill C-25. At that time I was Standing Committee on Industry, Science and Technology. representing my previous employer, the Polaris Institute, and we Members, we have 13 votes at 5:30, so we'll have to end this raised concerns about the potential defence applications of meeting at 5:15. RADARSAT-2 and the need for its sensitive technology to be firmly controlled by the Canadian government. I believe our last guest is here. We have with us today four guests. The orders of the day today are, pursuant to Standing Order 108 In recent years my work has become more involved in promoting (2), for the study of the proposed sale of part of MacDonald, Canadian leadership and ensuring that the benefits of space and its Dettwiler and Associates Ltd.
    [Show full text]
  • For Immediate Release
    NEWS RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE October 17, 2018 MDA leaders outline opportunities, challenges for Canada in space Speech to the Greater Saskatoon Chamber of Commerce highlights innovation and economic upsides for Canada, if government acts to secure our place in space Saskatoon, SK – MDA, a Maxar Technologies company (formerly MacDonald, Dettwiler and Associates Ltd.) (NYSE: MAXR) (TSX: MAXR), today outlined that Canada’s role and potential involvement in the growing new space economy requires a full commitment from the Government of Canada for a new space strategy that would secure Canada’s place as a leader in space, Mike Greenley, the Group President of MDA, said in a speech to the Greater Saskatoon Chamber of Commerce. “We need a long-term, fully funded space plan for Canada that establishes the requisite funding to maintain and enhance our existing world-leading capabilities in AI-based space robotics, satellite communications, Earth observation and space science, while cultivating new areas of leadership. And we need it now, because there are pressing decisions that need to be made,” Greenley said. Greenley and Holly Johnson, the president’s business manager at MDA, made their presentation today in Saskatchewan to highlight the impact space has in the region, from Canadian Light Source Inc. to Calian SED Systems, a partner with MDA in the Don’t Let Go Canada campaign currently underway. Greenley and Johnson took advantage of their time in Saskatchewan to discuss MDA Launchpad, the company’s initiative to bring more Canadians companies on board the space industry. MDA has tasked senior leaders to deal with small- to medium-sized enterprises looking to collaborate with MDA.
    [Show full text]
  • Maxar 2020 Annual Report
    A message from Maxar CEO, Dan Jablonsky I would like to take this opportunity to provide a recap of last year’s performance, remind stockholders of our commitment to innovation and the path ahead, and end with a reminder of our commitment to value creation and our broader purpose. Despite the numerous challenges of the global COVID-19 pandemic, the year proved to be another important and successful year in our company’s journey. Maxar is a world leading space technology and intelligence company. We unlock the promise of space to help customers solve problems on Earth and beyond. In 2020, Maxar continued to lead the throughout the year, and we look forward industry in Earth Intelligence by providing to serving and growing with them in the critical data and insights that government years to come. Our team members are and commercial customers need to make passionate about the work we do and informed decisions in an increasingly believe strongly our Earth Intelligence and complex world. In Space Infrastructure, Space Infrastructure capabilities have the we continued to provide innovative ways power to change how we navigate and for our customers to support understand our changing world and explore communications and exploration across what’s beyond it. our planet and beyond, including the power needed to return to the moon and Mars. Our commitment to customers and their critical missions remained unwavering 1 annual shareholder letter 2020 PERFORMANCE AND KEY HIGHLIGHTS Managed well during the COVID-19 pandemic: One of the largest stories of the year was the global pandemic, and we remained steadfast in our efforts to protect our workforce while producing the products and solutions our partners need to complete their critical missions.
    [Show full text]
  • Loral Space & Communications Inc
    Table of Contents UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 Form 10-K ☒ ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2020 OR ☐ TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 Commission file number 1-14180 LORAL SPACE & COMMUNICATIONS INC. (Exact name of registrant specified in its charter) Jurisdiction of incorporation: Delaware IRS identification number: 87-0748324 600 Fifth Avenue New York, New York 10020 Telephone: (212) 697-1105 Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act: Title of each class Trading Symbol Name of each exchange on which registered Common stock, $.01 par value LORL Nasdaq Global Select Market Preferred Stock Purchase Rights Nasdaq Global Select Market Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: None Indicate by check mark if the registrant is well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act. Yes ◻ No ☒ Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act. Yes ◻ No ☒ Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes ☒ No ◻ Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§ 232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files).
    [Show full text]
  • The RADARSAT-Constellation Mission (RCM)
    The RADARSAT-Constellation Mission (RCM) Dr. Heather McNairn Science and Technology Branch, ORDC [email protected] Daniel De Lisle RADARSAT Constellation Mission Manager Canadian Space Agency [email protected] Why Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR)? The Physics: • At microwave frequencies, energy causes alignment of dipoles (sensitive to number of water molecules in target) • Characteristics of structure in target impacts how microwaves scatter (sensitive to roughness and canopy structure) The Operations: • At wavelengths of centimetres to metres in length, microwaves are unaffected by cloud cover and haze • As active sensors, SARs generate their own source of energy; can operate day or night and under low illumination conditions The Reality for Agriculture: • The backscatter intensity and scattering characteristics can be used to estimate amount of water in soils and crops, and tell us something about the type and condition of crops • The near-assurance of data collection is critical for time sensitive applications, in times of emergency (i.e. flooding), risk (i.e. disease), and for consistent measures over the entire growing season (i.e. monitoring crop condition) Why a RADARSAT Constellation? • The use of C-Band SAR has increased significantly since the launch of RADARSAT-1 • Many Government of Canada users have developed operational applications that deliver information and products to Canadians and the international community, based on RADARSAT • This constellation ensures C-Band continuity with improved system reliability, primarily to support current and future operational users • RCM is a government-owned mission, tailored to respond to Canadian Government needs for maritime surveillance, disaster management and ecosystem monitoring Improved stream flow forecasts1 Estimates of crop biomass2 AAFC’s annual crop inventory Produced by ACGEO Contact: [email protected] 1Bhuiyan, H.A.K.M, McNairn, H., Powers, J., and Merzouki, A.
    [Show full text]
  • Canadian Space
    COTS View Case Study: Space Station Robot Embeds Ada Despite rumors of its demise, Adas is at the heart of the International Space Station’s in-orbit Canadarm 2 where it assures software safety and reliability. The ISS-based, next-generation Canadarm 2, the key element Robert Dewar, President, Ada Core Technologies of the MSS, is a bigger, better, smarter version of Canadarm, the robotic arm that operates from the cargo bay of the Space Shuttle. hile safety-critical characteristics have been introduced This arm is capable of handling large payloads and assisting with into the design of many programming languages, Ada docking the space shuttle to the space station. The new arm, built Wis the language specifically targeted at “life-critical” specifically for the space station, is 17.6 meters (57.7 feet) long systems. Developed between 1975 and 1984 by the US Department when fully extended and has seven motorized joints, each of of Defense (DoD), Ada has been classically targeted for use in which operates as a complex real-time embedded control system. mission-critical embedded systems that emphasize safety, low cost, Canadarm 2 is “self-relocatable” and can move around the sta- and a near-perfect degree of reliability. The most important safety tion’s exterior like an inchworm. Each end of the arm is equipped features that make Ada ideal for development of fail-safe software with a specialized mechanism called a Latching End Effector that include its information-hiding capability, its ability to provide can lock its free end on one of many special fixtures, called Power re-useable code and its “strong typing”, which helps detect and Data Grapple Fixtures placed strategically around the station, and solve many types of coding errors at compile time, very early in then detach its other end and pivot it forward.
    [Show full text]
  • RADARSAT-2 Data
    Article Figure 1a: Orthorectified RADARSAT-2 U2 data using RFM/RPC method without post-processing overlaid with Google Earth Automated High Accuracy Geometric Correction and Mosaicking without Ground Control Points RADARSAT-2 data Imagine a fully automated system used to produce accurate high resolution radar ortho-images and -mosaics all over the world with excellent reliability! Emergency management teams could then have access to highly-accurate radar data as soon as it becomes available for their time-sensitive needs. This was a difficult task in the past, mainly due to the arduous process of collecting ground control points (GCPs). It is now possible with the successful operation of the RADARSAT-2 satellite and a new 3D hybrid satellite model that process this data without user-collected GCPs. Philip Cheng and Thierry Toutin RADARSAT-2 satellite advancements that provide enhanced informa- Following the highly successful predecessor RADARSAT-2 is Canada’s second-generation com- tion for applications such as environmental RADARSAT-1 program (satellite launched in 1995), mercial Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) satel- monitoring, ice mapping, resource mapping, RADARSAT-2 was launched in December 14, 2007. lite and was designed with powerful technical disaster management, and marine surveillance. RADARSAT-2 is the world’s most advanced July/August 2010 22 Article Figure 1b: Orthorectified RADARSAT-2 U2 data using Toutin’s hybrid method without post-processing overlaid with Google Earth commercial C-band SAR satellite and heralds a Geometric Correction of RADARSAT-2 Since the RADARSAT-2 satellite has multiple GPS new era in satellite performance, imaging flexi- Data receivers on board with accurate real-time bility and product selection and service offer- For most SAR applications, it is required to positioning, this information could potentially ings.
    [Show full text]
  • Maritime Environmental Surveillance with RADARSAT-2
    Anais XVI Simpósio Brasileiro de Sensoriamento Remoto - SBSR, Foz do Iguaçu, PR, Brasil, 13 a 18 de abril de 2013, INPE Maritime environmental surveillance with RADARSAT-2 Gordon Staples1 Douglas Fraga Rodrigues2 1MDA 13800 Commerce Parkway – Richmond – B.C – Canada – V6V 2J3 [email protected] 2Threetek Soluções em Geomática México Str., 41 – Downtown – 20031–144 – Rio de Janeiro – RJ, Brazil [email protected] Abstract: Two key maritime surveillance applications for RADARSAT-2 are ship detection and oil slick detection. Ship detection applications primarily focuses on illegal bilge dumping and oil slick detection focuses on the detection of natural oil seeps and the accidental discharge of oil from offshore drilling platforms. Ship detection depends on three main parameters: wind, ship properties, and radar characteristics. Ship detection improves with decreasing wind speed and increasing ship length. The use of cross-polarized data in the near- range and co-polarized data in the far-range provide good ship detection performance across a wide range of incidence angles. Oil slick detection depends primarily on wind speed. Radar polarization also plays a role in oil slick detection. Co-polarized (HH or VV) images provide similar results, but cross-polarized return is generally not used due to weak scattering from oil. Case studies that outline the application of RADARSAT-2 data for oil spill monitoring, oil seep mapping, and illegal bilge dumping are discussed. End user needs are discussed as either a requirement for data or information products. To be of the greatest value both data and information products are usually needed in a timely manner, and must be interpretable and interoperable, allowing for end users to use the information in any manner.
    [Show full text]
  • Telesat Today Announced Its Financial Results for the Three and Six-Month Periods Ended June 30, 2021
    Telesat Reports Results for the Quarter and Six Months Ended June 30, 2021 OTTAWA, CANADA, August 13, 2021 - Telesat today announced its financial results for the three and six-month periods ended June 30, 2021. All amounts are in Canadian dollars and reported under International Financial Reporting Standards (“IFRS”) unless otherwise noted. For the quarter ended June 30, 2021, Telesat reported consolidated revenue of $188 million, a decrease of 10% ($20 million) compared to the same period in 2020. When adjusted for changes in foreign exchange rates, revenue declined 3% ($7 million) compared to 2020. Revenue decreases were primarily due to a slight reduction of service for one of Telesat’s North American DTH customers, non-renewals of certain enterprise contracts, and lower consulting revenue. Operating expenses for the quarter were $57 million, an increase of $11 million from 2020. When adjusted for changes in foreign exchange rates, operating expenses increased by $14 million from 2020. The increase in operating expenses was principally the result of a $16 million increase in non-cash share-based compensation combined with higher wages due to the hiring of additional employees primarily to support our Telesat Lightspeed program. These increases were partially offset by higher capitalized engineering and lower bad debt expense in the three months ended June 30, 2021. Adjusted EBITDA1 was $149 million, a decrease of 10% ($16 million) or, when adjusted for foreign exchange rates, a decrease of 3% ($5 million). The Adjusted EBITDA margin1 for the second quarter of 2021 was 79.2%, compared to 79.1% in 2020. For the quarter ended June 30, 2021, net income was $61 million, compared to net income of $162 million for 2020.
    [Show full text]
  • Mda Fas Dashboard Legend & Disclaimers
    Monitoring Forest Cover Change In the Protected Areas of APP’s Suppliers Concession Areas Table of Contents Introduction ......................................................................................................................................................... 2 Challenges............................................................................................................................................................ 3 The Satellite : RADARSAT-2 ................................................................................................................................. 4 Reliable Forest Change Observations From Space .............................................................................................. 4 How Does RADARSAT-2 Detect Changes in Forest Cover ................................................................................... 7 Processing the Data ............................................................................................................................................. 9 Verification Process ........................................................................................................................................... 11 ATTACHMENTS .................................................................................................................................................. 13 References ......................................................................................................................................................... 17 External Links ....................................................................................................................................................
    [Show full text]