On 20 October 2000 , the Canadian Space Agency ( CSA ) joined the European Space Agency ( ESA ) and the Centre nationale d'études spatiales ( CNES ) of France in signing the Charter on Cooperation to Achieve the Coordinated Use of Space Facilities in the Event of Natural or Technological Disasters ( the `` International Charter on Space and Major Disasters '' ) , further expanding Canada 's ability to provide timely information to countries in distress . Mac Evans , President of CSA , described the Charter as a far-reaching humanitarian initiative that would lead to the coordination and global positioning of space resources , such as Canada 's renowned Synthetic Aperture Radar Satellite ( RADARSAT ) -1 , providing timely and critical imaging to agencies directing rescue and relief efforts in times of natural and technological disasters .