Multistatic SAR Synchronization and Baseline Determination with Communication Links

Abstract

Multistatic SAR systems offer a path towards system simplification while also having similar image quality and characteristics to their monostatic counterpart. Nevertheless, this distribution poses certain challenges, two of particular interest: i) precise baseline determination for interferometric applications and ii) inter-satellite synchronization since different oscillators are used for modulation and demodulation. We investigate a solution for baseline estimation and synchronization based on a Gold code originating from the communication link used for navigation of the satellites flying in formation. The communication system is coherent with the radar payload. We simulate this solution, achieving baseline estimation accuracy in the mm range and synchronization in the sub-degree range for an S-band system.