Shortly after TerraSAR-X’s launch
from the Russian Space Centre in Baikonur, DLR were able to present the first
images from the satellite in just four days. Subsequently, commissioning of the
satellite and the radar instrument were completed as planned, with the
satellite becoming fully operational in early 2008. Since then, the mission has
been characterised by a smooth operation and production process, generating a
variety of unique imaging products, which have been used for both scientific
and commercial purposes.
The launch of the TanDEM-X radar
satellite, which is almost identical in construction, is scheduled for October
2009. Orbiting in a close formation with TerraSAR-X, at distances of between a
few kilometres to just 200 metres, the two satellites will be able to capture
data of unprecedented accuracy. This will ultimately lead to a global digital
elevation model of all land masses on the Earth's surface.
Successful
two-year results with excellent geolocation accuracy
Since the launch of the TerraSAR-X
satellite, the Mission Control Centre of DLR has successfully planned,
commanded and executed approximately 35,000 radar images of the Earth's surface
and processed them into about 50,000 high-quality products for scientific and
commercial users. The existing results impressively demonstrate the high
quality of the TerraSAR-X products which, in many areas, even exceed the requirements.
What has been of particularly impressive is the outstanding geolocation
accuracy of better than 0.5 metres. This allows fully automatic, pixel-accurate
superposition of two images of a scene acquired at different times. Further
features are the high radiometric accuracy and the excellent radar instrument
stability.
Various scientific
and commercial applications due to radar technology
TerraSAR-X products can be used for
numerous scientific and commercial applications. The main focus is on land
applications, such as agriculture and forestry, land use/vegetation,
observation of rural areas and cartography. Ice research and maritime
applications have also benefited from the radar data. Three examples for the
variety of applications are shown in the following.
Fast help from
space in the case of natural disasters
Following natural disasters,
TerraSAR-X data has been repeatedly used by international authorities for
on-site crisis management support. This includes the mapping of flood areas and
damage assessment after earthquakes. In early November 2007, heavy rainfall
lasting for weeks led to devastating floods in the Mexican states of Tabasco and Chiapas,
displacing about one million people and approximately half of Tabasco's overall population. About 80% of
the state of Tabasco's
surface, i.e. an overall area of approximately 25,000 square kilometres, was
temporarily flooded. The DLR centre for satellite-based crisis Information
(ZKI) supported the Mexican civil protection authority (CENAPRED) with
satellite image maps of the floods. Capable of operating in cloudy conditions
or at night time, TerraSAR-X is able to deliver high resolution imagery with a
resolution of up to one metre.
Early detection
of changes and climate influences in the Antarctica
With the help of the TerraSAR-X
satellite, scientists have observed the loss of a huge ice bridge on the
Antarctic Wilkins Ice Shelf. There, the first icebergs broke away on 20 April
2009 and the TerraSAR-X images show this development. These icebergs are
breaking away at the failure zones which have gradually formed over the past 15
years. The high resolution of the TerraSAR-X satellite images enables the
observation of deformations in the Wilkins Ice Shelf, down to a range of
approximately 100 metres. This information enables the glaciologists to
describe distortion more precisely with the help of models. Newly formed cracks
are very narrow during their initial stages and are therefore not visible on
images taken at a lower resolution, such as those supplied by the older
generation of satellites. To reconstruct the chronological sequence of events,
the kind of high-resolution images supplied by TerraSAR-X are necessary.
Weather-independent
and cross-border traffic information via satellite - for traffic forecasting and better route suggestions
DLR has begun several months of
tests into the feasibility of obtaining traffic information via satellite.
TerraSAR-X is going to monitor selected motorway sections in Germany, Austria,
Switzerland and California. The aim of
this project is to develop a procedure for large-scale traffic data capture,
independent of ground systems, which will permit the relay of data to various
traffic information providers. In contrast to measurement procedures currently
used, which are mostly stationary procedures, information gleaned by satellite
can yield up-to-the-minute information, even from roads without sensors,
whatever the weather, regardless of borders. The technology is not limited to
discovering areas of high traffic density. It can also be used to calculate the
average speed of motorway traffic, so that the exact journey time between
junctions can be established. With the help of such information, traffic
information service providers will be able to make better route suggestions – even in fog, heavy rain and darkness – thanks to the latest radar technology. However, the
recognition of vehicle number plates is not possible with this technology.
The two add-on
payloads also in successful operation
The secondary payloads of
TerraSAR-X, i.e. the TESAT-built Laser Communication Terminal (LCT) and the
Tracking, Occultation and Ranging (TOR) experiment provided by the geo-research
centre (GFZ) are working perfectly. The LCT is a DLR financed technology
demonstrator used for in-orbit verification of rapid optical data transfer in
space. With the help of LCT, a reproducible data exchange between the two
low-flying satellites, i.e. TerraSAR-X and NFIRE, could be obtained for the
first time at a transmission rate of 5.5 gigabits per second.
Unique success
story of the German radar satellite TerraSAR-X
Based on the experience gained in
the first two years of operation, the TerraSAR-X
mission can be considered to be an outstanding success story receiving
recognition and appreciation from the US space agency NASA and other
national space organisations, as well as the European Space Agency (ESA). For
the coming years of operation, many more exciting results can be expected which
will provide further scientific and commercial highlights.
Second TanDEM-X
radar satellite scheduled for launch in October – providing third-dimension data
TanDEM-X (TerraSAR-X add-on for
Digital Elevation Measurement), the second almost identical German radar
satellite, has already been completed and is being extensively tested in Munich at Astrium and
IABG. Its launch from the Russian Baikonur Space Centre is scheduled for
October. By orbiting in close formation, the two satellites are to capture data
of unprecedented accuracy for a global digital elevation model of all land
masses of the Earth's surface.
About
TerraSAR-X
TerraSAR-X is the first German satellite that has been
manufactured under what is known as a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) between
the German Aerospace Centre (Deutsches Zentrum fuer Luft- und Raumfahrt; DLR)
and Astrium GmbH in Friedrichshafen.
The satellite travels around the Earth in a polar orbit and records unique,
high-quality X-band radar data about the entire planet using its active
antenna. TerraSAR-X works regardless of weather conditions, cloud cover or
absence of daylight, and is able to provide radar data with a resolution of
down to one metre per pixel
DLR is responsible for using TerraSAR-X data for
scientific purposes. It is also responsible for planning and implementing the
mission as well as controlling the satellite. Astrium built the satellite and
shares the costs of developing and using it. Infoterra GmbH, a subsidiary
company founded specifically for this purpose by Astrium, is responsible for
marketing the data commercially.
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
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 centre 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
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 Mueller (German Aerospace Centre,
DLR) Tel.: +49
(0)2203 601 2805
www.dlr.de
