TerraSAR-X Calibration Ground Equipment

Abstract

The Microwaves and Radar Institute regularly performs calibration campaigns for spaceborne SAR systems, among which have been X-SAR, SRTM, and ASAR. In 2007, the German SAR satellite TerraSAR-X will be launched. Before it is ready for scientific and commercial use, the instrument has to be calibrated to ensure highly accurate data products. An absolute radiometric accuracy of better than 1 dB is required. The relative and absolute radiometric calibration of SAR systems depends on reference point targets (i. e. passive corner reflectors and active transponders) with precisely known RCS. For the TerraSAR-X mission, the reference targets will be deployed on ground in the South of Germany during a 6 month lasting field campaign. This paper describes these reference targets (i. e. ground receivers, passive corner reflectors, and active transponders) and their characteri-zation.