- Testing to be undertaken in Munich - Launch from
Baikonur in October
- Mapping of the Earth with innovative
radar interferometer
-
High-precision digital elevation
model available as of 2012
Next week, the satellite, which is
five metres long and weighs 1.3 tonnes, will be transported to Ottobrunn near Munich where it will
undergo testing at Astrium’s and IABG’s test facilities. TamDEM-X will remain there
until mid-September, where final checks will be conducted ahead of launch. It
will then be transported to the Baikonur space centre (Kazakhstan) with lift-off aboard a
Russian Dnepr launcher scheduled for October.
TanDEM-X will fly in tandem
formation with the identical TerraSAR-X satellite for a period of two years, generating
a digital elevation model of the Earth's land masses. By flying in close
formation at distances of just a few kilometres to 200 metres apart, both
satellites form a radar interferometer. Through this process the satellites
will be able to provide radar images of unprecedented quality over the coming
years.
As with the TerraSAR-X 'sister
mission', the TanDEM-X project was implemented in a Public-Private Partnership
(PPP) between Astrium GmbH and DLR. The PPP agreement provides TanDEM-X funding
and data utilisation. Thus, the partners (DLR and Astrium) jointly financed the
satellite to the total of approximately €85
million: €59 million was provided by DLR and €26 million by Astrium. Furthermore, DLR has developed
the mission-relevant ground segment and is responsible for mission planning and
implementation, as well as for the control of both satellites and the
generation of the digital elevation model. Data exploitation for scientific
purposes is coordinated by the DLR institute for high-frequency technology and
radar systems. Infoterra GmbH (Friedrichshafen),
a wholly owned subsidiary of Astrium, is exclusively responsible for commercial
marketing.
With the aid of the tandem formation
of TerraSAR-X/TanDEM-X it will be possible to completely measure the Earth's
land surface (150 million square kilometres) within a period of only three
years. For a 12-metre grid (street width), height information can be determined
with an accuracy of less than two metres.
The distinct advantage of
satellite-based Earth measurement is the generation of a world-wide, consistent
and homogeneous terrain model with no discontinuity at regional or national
borders and no inhomogeneities resulting from different measurement procedures
and measurement campaigns staggered in time (mosaics). The radar plays a
decisive role here, since it can be operated completely independent of weather
and clouds, day and night.
This mapping procedure is
unparalleled and is of particular interest to the USA. TanDEM-X is a key project for
demonstrating, safeguarding and extending the German competence and
competitiveness in the field of satellite-based radar technology.
As of 2012, Germany will possess a
digital terrain model of the Earth – an attractive and worldwide unique
data product – which, in addition to many
scientific application possibilities, can be used in initiatives and
programmes, such as the centre for satellite-based crisis information (ZKI -
Zentrum für satellitengestützte Kriseninformation), GMES (Global Monitoring for
Environment and Security) and GEOSS (Global Earth Observation System of
Systems), and also in security-relevant cooperation agreements.
About TanDEM-X
The
TanDEM-X project is being implemented by a Public-Private Partnership (PPP)
between the German Aerospace Center (DLR) and Astrium GmbH.
The
primary goal of the TanDEM-X (TerraSAR-X add-on for Digital Elevation Measurement) mission is to
generate a global digital elevation model. To achieve this, two satellites –
TanDEM-X and TerraSAR-X, a satellite of almost identical
construction which has been in orbit since 2007 – will form the first
configurable SAR (Synthetic Aperture Radar) interferometer in space with a
separation of only a few hundred metres. A powerful ground segment which is
closely interfaced with that of TerraSAR-X completes the TanDEM-X system. The
satellites will fly in formation and operate in parallel for three years to
cover the entire surface of the Earth.
DLR is responsible for the scientific exploitation of the TanDEM-X data
as well as for planning and implementing the mission, controlling the two
satellites and generating the digital elevation model. Astrium built the
satellite and shares in the cost of its development and exploitation. As with
TerraSAR-X, the responsibility for marketing the TanDEM-X data commercially
lies in the hands of Infoterra GmbH, a subsidiary of Astrium.
About Astrium
Astrium, a
wholly owned subsidiary of EADS, is dedicated to providing civil and defence
space systems and services. In 2008, Astrium had a turnover of €4.3 billion and
more than 15,000 employees in France,
Germany, the United Kingdom, Spain
and the Netherlands.
Its three main areas of activity are Astrium Space Transportation for launchers
and orbital infrastructure, Astrium Satellites for spacecraft and ground
segment and Astrium Services for the development and delivery of satellite services.
EADS
is a global leader in aerospace, defence and related services. In 2008,
EADS generated revenues of €43.3 billion and employed a workforce of more
than 118, 000.
About DLR
DLR
is Germany's
national research centre for aeronautics and space. Its extensive research and
development work in aeronautics, space, transportation and energy is integrated
into national and international cooperative ventures. As Germany's Space Agency, the German federal
government has given DLR responsibility for the forward planning and
implementation of the German space programme as well as international
representation of Germany's
interests.
Approximately
6000 people work for DLR; the center has 29 institutes and facilities
at 13 locations in Germany:
Berlin, Bonn, Braunschweig, Bremen, Cologne (headquarters), Goettingen,
Hamburg, Lampoldshausen, Neustrelitz,
Oberpfaffenhofen, Stuttgart,
Trauen and Weilheim. DLR also has offices in Brussels,
Paris and Washington,
D.C.
Press contacts:
Daniel
Mosely (Astrium UK) Tel. :
+44 (0)1 438 77 8180
Matthieu Duvelleroy (Astrium FR) Tel.:
+33 (0) 1 77 75 80 32
Mathias
Pikelj (Astrium GER) Tel.:
+49 (0) 7545 8 9123
Ralph
Heinrich (Astrium GER) Tel. :
+49 (0) 89 607 33971
Francisco Lechón (Astrium SP) Tel.: +34 91 586 37 41
www.astrium.eads.net
Eduard Müller (DLR) Tél. : +49 (0) 2203 601 2805
