Abstract
The TerraSAR-X mission, based on two satellites, has produced SAR data products of high quality for a number of scientific and commercial applications for more than ten years. To guarantee the stability and the reliability of these highly accurate SAR data products, both systems were first accurately calibrated during their respective commissioning phases and have been permanently monitored since then. Based on a short description of the methods applied, this paper focuses on the radiometric performance including the gain and phase properties of the transmit/receiver modules, the antenna pattern checked by evaluating scenes acquired over uniformly distributed targets and the radiometric stability derived from permanently deployed point targets. The outcome demonstrates the remarkable performance of both systems since their respective launch.
Highlights
More than ten years ago, on 15 June 2007, the first German synthetic aperture radar (SAR) mission TerraSAR-X for commercial and scientific application was started by launching the first satellite, called TSX
The antenna consists of 12 panels in azimuth direction with each panel comprising 32 sub-array radiators in elevation direction, whereby each sub-array is fed by its own active transmit/receiver module (TRM)
The radiometric performance of TSX and TDX has been monitored for the entire mission duration, i.e., more than 10 years for TSX and seven years for TDX
Summary
More than ten years ago, on 15 June 2007, the first German synthetic aperture radar (SAR) mission TerraSAR-X for commercial and scientific application was started by launching the first satellite, called TSX. A pre-requisite to ensure accurate and reliable SAR data products over the whole mission time is first, an accurate calibration of the system and, a permanent monitoring of relevant system parameters During their commissioning phases, TSX (in 2007) and TDX (in 2010) could be accurately calibrated with outstanding results [5,6]. TSX (in 2007) and TDX (in 2010) could be accurately calibrated with outstanding results [5,6] Since both SAR systems have been permanently monitored to detect changes in their performance, like degradation of the satellite hardware and to guarantee reliable and correct operation of the instruments. It can be summarized that the TRMs have been working in a very stable manner over mission elapsed time, i.e., for more than 10 years for TSX and seven years for TDX
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