The CSTARS facility initiated its capability to collect of SPOT 2 & 4, and ERS-2 earth remote sensing observations in mid-September, 2002. That is, the facility is now able to routinely track these platforms, but data is collected only if a spacecraft's sensors are in operation and the respective downlink is energized or requested. While the bulk of these requests are not necessarily from or for CSTARS, the observed coverage should be a good indicator of general image requests in the area inside the CSTARS station mask.

The collection coverage for the past month (below, monthly) shows a diverse set of scenes spread over the theoretical coverage mask (see following figure). Coverage includes coastal and open ocean regimes with additional inland collects. Coverage extent is from central Columbia and Venezuela on the southern edge to southern Canada in the north with complete coverage over the Caribbean and Central America, and some scenes in the western Atlantic and central North America. This map illustrates that the theoretical coverage of the facility's station mask computed for a 2.5^o antenna elevation is being realized.

Coverage for the past week (below, weekly) is less dense due to the shorter time interval. However, the weekly coverage, too, shows a geographically diverse set of scenes with fairly broad spatial distribution. Typically, there are no significant departures from the observed monthly coverage.

Coverage for a day illustrates the fact that daily coverage can be sparse despite the number of collection opportunities (typically 3-6 per platform with several swaths having major latitudinal extent). That is, it would appear these particular platforms are remarkably under-utilized in the CSTARS coverage mask on a daily basis.