TerraSAR-X exceeds all expectations

Oberpfaffenhofen/Friedrichshafen/Neustrelitz, 21 June 2007 – Only four days after the German radar satellite TerraSAR-X was launched from the Baikonur Cosmodrome, the first crystal clear satellite images appeared on the monitors at the DLR space centre in Oberpfaffenhofen, only 30 minutes after the data had been received by the ground station in Neustrelitz.

Although the satellite will only reach its final orbital position in ten days’ time, these data – recorded for test purposes only – already display a remarkably high level of detail and quality.

Over the next few months, DLR’s TerraSAR-X team will be completing calibration of the radar instrument and optimising the data processing chain.

The TerraSAR-X Earth observation satellite is a joint venture being carried out under a public-private-partnership between DLR and Astrium GmbH. DLR covers the whole range of required technologies, from the initial design and mission control to the processing and scientific analysis and application of the data obtained. Astrium GmbH developed, built and launched the satellite; the exclusive commercial exploitation rights are held by the geo-information service provider Infoterra GmbH (Friedrichshafen).

Astrium, a wholly owned subsidiary of EADS, specialises in civil and military space systems and space-based services. In 2006, Astrium achieved revenues of 3.2 billion euros and employed approximately 12,000 people in France, Germany, Spain, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom. The company’s core business is divided into three areas: the two business units Astrium Space Transportation (for launch vehicles and space infrastructures) and Astrium Satellites (for satellites and ground segments), and the wholly owned subsidiary Astrium Services for the development and delivery of satellite-based services.

EADS is one of the world’s leading suppliers of aerospace and defence systems and all associated services. In 2006, the company’s revenues amounted to around 39.4 billion euros, with a workforce of more than 116,000 employees.

Infoterra GmbH, Germany, was founded in 2007 for the commercial exploitation of the TerraSAR-X data. The company is responsible not only for the commercial distribution of the data, but for the development and marketing of derived geo-information products and services as well.

Infoterra GmbH employs a workforce of 40 in Friedrichshafen, Germany, and is part of the Infoterra Group, which comprises companies in France, Germany and the United Kingdom with over 300 employees and a turnover of more than 50 Mio Euro.

DLR is the national aerospace research center of the Federal Republic of Germany. Its extensive research and development activities in the aerospace, transportation and energy sectors are embedded in national and international cooperation ventures. In addition to its own in-house research, the DLR, acting as the Space Agency of the Federal Government, is responsible for planning and implementing Germany's astronautical activities as well as for representing the country's interests on the international plane. Furthermore, DLR is the apex organization for Germany's largest project management agency.

DLR employs a staff of about 5,100 at its 27 institutes and facilities distributed over eight locations, namely Köln-Porz, Berlin-Adlershof, Bonn-Oberkassel, Braunschweig, Göttingen, Lampoldshausen, Oberpfaffenhofen and Stuttgart. It maintains branch offices at Brussels, Paris and Washington, DC.

www.astrium.eads.net
www.terrasar.de

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