TanDEM-X (‘TerraSAR-X add-on for Digital Elevation Measurement’) is an Earth observation satellite, which, together with the almost identical TerraSAR-X radar satellite, forms a high-precision radar interferometer system.
The TerraSAR-X/TanDEM-X satellite formation can generate images similar to stereoscopic pictures. It is measuring all the Earth’s land surface (150 million square kilometres) within a period of less than three years. For a 12m grid (street width), surface height information can then be determined with an accuracy of under two meters. One goal is the production of a global Digital Elevation Model of unprecedented accuracy.
As for TerraSAR-X, the TanDEM-X project is a Public–Private Partnership between Astrium GmbH and the German space agency DLR. TanDEM-X was launched on 21 June 2010 from the Baikonur Cosmodrome (Kazakhstan) on board a Dnepr launcher and is designed for five years of operation.
Use of the data for scientific applications will be the responsibility of the DLR, commercial marketing of the data is managed by Astrium Services’ GEO-Information Division.
The TanDEM-X mission will create a global Digital Elevation Model (DEM) with unprecedented accuracy.
© Astrium / Thomas Ernsting / 2010
Fact Sheet
| Customer | DLR (Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt) |
| Mission | To generate a global Digital Elevation Model (DEM) with unprecedented accuracy |
| Orbit | Sun-synchronous dusk-dawn orbit |
| Spacecraft | Rebuild of the TerraSAR-X satellite which was based on the Astrium Flexbus concept and extensive heritage from the CHAMP and GRACE missions |
| Payload |
• Active phased array X-band Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) • Tracking, Occultation and Ranging (TOR) equipment |
| Features |
• X-band downlink horn antenna is mounted at the tip of a 3.3m long boom |
| Launch Mass | 1340kg (spacecraft: 1220kg, fuel: 120kg) |
| Dimensions | 5m length, 2.4m diameter (hexagonal cross section) |
| Launch Date | June 2010 on DNEPR-1 rocket from Baikonur |
| Mission Duration | 5 years |
| Astrium Responsibilities | Prime contractor, SAR and satellite integration and testing, manufacturer of many electronic units including On-Board Computer and Solid State Mass Memory |
