TerraSAR-X SAR Products and Processing Algorithms

Abstract

TerraSAR-X is a German SAR satellite to be launched in 2006. The instrument is programmable in wide ranges and the dual polarized active phased array antenna is steerable in elevation and azimuth. Both features allow a number of imaging modes, among them stripmap, ScanSAR and spotlight. The later yields resolutions on the order of 1 meter. Geocoding and ortho-rectification capability is provided for all imaging modes. Additional experimental modes comprise an along track interferometric mode and a quad polarized mode. A wide product palette has been defined from the operational and experimental imaging modes that will be processed at and distributed by the German Aerospace Center DLR for commercial and scientific users. The employed SAR processing system is a new DLR development and will handle SAR data from the different acquisition modes (stripmap, ScanSAR, spotlight, multi-pol) and product variants (complex, detected, geocoded) in a unified way. This approach allows a coherent processor design and shall reduce the efforts for test, calibration and validation of the product tree. The paper summarizes the instrument operation modes, the applied processing algorithms and the product properties as they are relevant for the user. The geocoded product called Enhanced Ellipsoid Corrected will be described as well as the applied Digital Elevation Model Data Base (DEM-DB). Also details on phase preserving interferometric and polarimetric products are addressed.