Experimental F-SAR Data Analysis in Support of the ENEX-ASGAR Project for an Enceladus Radar Mission (ENCELA-2) - Part 1: Kaufbeuren Experiment

Abstract

SAR remote sensing offers a key element for the exploration of Saturn's ice-covered moon Enceladus, since it allows for the imaging of the ice-crust. As a consequence of the penetrating capabilities of electromagnetic waves, up to a few GHz, the subsurface imaging of ice structures becomes feasible. Following a first experiment in 2019, a potential Enceladus radar mission has been simulated through further experimental F-SAR flights to investigate the performance of a transponder developed by the Friedrich-Alexander University of Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU). Two test flights were conducted in June 2021 in Kaufbeuren to demonstrate the proper functioning of the transponder, to indicate shortcomings and propose improvements for the deployment on the upper Aletsch glacier in Switzerland in February/March 2022. This document gives an overview of the acquired and processed data during the second Kaufbeuren ENCELA-2 campaign.