HR: 0830h
AN: B41B-0881    [PDF]
TI: The TerraSAR mission -- opportunities for research and applications
AU: * Hoffmann, J
EM: joern.hoffmann@dlr.de
AF: German Aerospace Center, German Remote Sensing Data Center, Oberpfaffenhofen, Wessling, 82234 Germany
AU: Roth, A
EM: achim.roth@dlr.de
AF: German Aerospace Center, German Remote Sensing Data Center, Oberpfaffenhofen, Wessling, 82234 Germany
AB: The German TerraSAR-X mission, scheduled to launch in October 2005, will acquire fully polarimetric imaging radar data at X-band from a spaceborne platform at resolutions that have previously only been available from airborne systems. Depending on the operating mode resolutions down to $1 m$ on the ground are possible. The $11$-day orbit repeat cycle provides a relatively high temporal sampling rate for change-studies, which can be further increased by using the multi-mode or multi-incidence angle capabilities. Every point on earth will be observable every $4.5$ days; for $95%$ of the earth's surface even every $2.5$ days. The aperture can be split and be used for along-track interferometry. Like the high-resolution optical data that has now become available from IKONOS and QUICKBIRD, the spatial detail contained in TerraSAR radar data will be particularly valuable in the detection and classification of urban features. But the reliable all-weather monitoring capability afforded by high-resolution radar data also has important applications in many other fields including ecology, hydrology, oceanography or geology. The polarimetric information and the potential for acquiring frequently sampled time-series data will enable unprecedented opportunities for a broad range of studies. Here we report on the status of the TerraSAR mission and discuss the opportunities for scientific and commercial applications.
DE: 0933 Remote sensing
DE: 1294 Instruments and techniques
DE: 1694 Instruments and techniques
DE: 1894 Instruments and techniques
SC: Biogeosciences [B]
MN: 2003 Fall Meeting