TerraSAR-X was launched in 2007 and carries a steerable X-Band SAR sensor which provides a highly accurate, high resolution dataset.
TerraSAR-X is a commercial German synthetic aperture radar (SAR) Earth observation satellite which was launched in June 2007. The TerraSAR-X mission is a Public Private Partnership (PPP) between the German Aerospace Centre (DLR) and Europe's leading space company, EADS Astrium GmbH.
TerraSAR-X carries an X-band, steerable, SAR radar with single and dual polarisation options. There is an additional quad polarisation option for Mission specific captures. The satellite captures in 5 modes ranging from 1m (High Resolution Spotlight Mode) to 18.5m resolution (ScanSAR Mode). TerraSAR-X has revisit times varying from 2.5 days to 11 days depending on imaging mode.
In 2010, TanDEM-X (TerraSAR-X add-on for Digital Elevation Measurement) was launched. The TanDEM-X satellite is almost identical to the TerraSAR-X Satellite. Both satellites have been flying in close formation with only a few hundred metres separation (helix formation). Together they form the first configurable synthetic aperture radar interferometer in space.
The TerraSAR-X/TanDEM-X mission has been engaged in a synchronous data acquisition and coverage of the Earth's entire land mass was captured within 3 years. This has
resulted in the production of the WorldDEM dataset comprising a 12m posting elevation model with a reported absolute relative accuracy of 10m.
| Modes | High Resolution SpotLight (Single/Dual) SpotLight (Single/Dual) StripMap (Single/Dual) ScanSAR |
|---|---|
| Nominal Resolution | High Resolution SpotLight (Single): 1m High Resolution SpotLight (Dual): 2m SpotLight (Single): 2m SpotLight (Dual): 4m StripMap (Single): 3m StripMap (Dual): 6m ScanSAR: 18.5m |
| Swath width | High Resolution SpotLight (Single): 10km High Resolution SpotLight (Dual): 10km SpotLight (Single): 10km SpotLight (Dual): 10km StripMap (Single): 30km StripMap (Dual): 15km ScanSAR: 100km |
| Band | X- Band |
| Polarisation | High Resolution SpotLight (Single): HH or VV High Resolution SpotLight (Dual): HH + VV SpotLight (Single): HH or VV SpotLight (Dual): HH + VV StripMap (Single): HH or VV StripMap (Dual): HH + VV or HH + HV or VV + VH ScanSAR: HH or VV |
| Nominal Look Direction | Right |
| Incidence Angle | High Resolution SpotLight (Single): 20-55 degrees High Resolution SpotLight (Dual): 20-55 degrees SpotLight (Single): 20-55 degrees SpotLight (Dual): 20-55 degrees StripMap (Single): 20-45 degrees StripMap (Dual): 20-45 degrees ScanSAR: 20-45 degrees |
| Applications | Land use and planning Infrastructure planning Environmental assessment Mapping /Surveying Utility corridor mapping Mining and Exploration Oil and Gas Agriculture DEM generation (InSAR) Subsidence mapping (DInSAR/PSIsnSAR) Hydrology Geology |
