TanDEM-X: A Satellite Formation for High Resolution Radar Interferometry

Paper number

IAC-06-B1.3.05

Author

Dr. Alberto Moreira, Deutsches Zentrum fur Luft und Raumfahrt e.V. (DLR), Germany

Coauthor

Mr. Gerhard Krieger, Deutsches Zentrum fur Luft und Raumfahrt e.V. (DLR), Germany

Coauthor

Dr. Hauke Fiedler, German Aerospace Center (DLR), Germany

Coauthor

Dr. Irena Hajnsek, German Aerospace Center (DLR), Germany

Coauthor

Mr. Marian Werner, German Aerospace Center (DLR), Germany

Coauthor

Dr. Manfred Zink, German Aerospace Center (DLR), Germany

Coauthor

Dr. Marwan Younis, German Aerospace Center (DLR), Germany

Year

2006

Abstract

TanDEM-X (TerraSAR-X add-on for Digital Elevation Measurement) is a mission for an innovative spaceborne radar interferometer which has been approved for the realisation phase. TanDEM-X opens a new era in the German space programme and will provide a major push for the R\&D activities on high-resolution X-Band SAR. The mission has been evaluated in a phase A study by a joint DLR and EADS Astrium GmbH team, the phase B study is currently ongoing.

The TanDEM-X Mission has the primary objective of generating a consistent, global DEM with an unprecedented accuracy according to the HRTI-3 specifications. Beyond that, TanDEM-X provides a configurable SAR interferometric platform for demonstrating new SAR techniques and applications. The TanDEM-X satellite is designed for five years of nominal operation. 3 years of joint operation with TerraSAR-X will be sufficient to fulfil the TanDEM-X user requirements.

The achievable height accuracy of the Digital Elevation Models has been derived from a detailed performance analysis taking into account all major system and scene parameters like the finite radiometric sensitivity of the individual radar sensors, co-registration and processing errors, range and azimuth ambiguities, baseline and Doppler decorrelation, the strength and orientation of surface and vegetation scattering, quantization errors, temporal and volume decorrelation, baseline estimation errors and the chosen independent post-spacing (horizontal resolution). Furthermore, the dependency of the performance on the various operational modes and important instrument settings has been investigated and recommendations for system optimization will be given.

The mission concept will be presented focusing on the application potentials of this highly innovative mission. In addition critical issues will be addressed together with a derivation of essential requirements on both the system and mission level.

Abstract document

IAC-06-B1.3.05.pdf

Manuscript document

IAC-06-B1.3.05.pdf (🔒 authorized access only).

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