TerraSAR-X radar satellite already delivering outstanding images for numerous scientific applications – A success story

August 9, 2007

TerraSAR-X radar satellite already delivering outstanding images for numerous scientific applications – A success story

Berlin, 9 August 2007: Although TerraSAR-X, the first German radar satellite for Earth observation, has been in orbit for less than two months and is not yet fully operational, it is already delivering outstanding images for numerous applications. The satellite, the product of a successful Public–Private Partnership (PPP), can be hailed as a German success story. *"TerraSAR-X proves that Germany's research community and industry can achieve great things when they pool their expertise,"* said Professor Johann-Dietrich Wörner, chairman of the German Aerospace Center (DLR).

Professor Wörner expressed his enthusiasm for the images that have already been drawn from the radar's data: "TerraSAR-X documents Germany's leadership in the field of remote sensing. Our data will not only provide the international research community with an important source of information, but they will also help to further develop commercial Earth observation applications. In addition, TerraSAR-X will enhance Germany's major role in the European GMES (Global Monitoring for Environment and Security) Earth observation programme."

At a press conference at Germany's Federal Press Office in Berlin, DLR and Infoterra GmbH, a subsidiary of PPP industry partner Astrium GmbH, presented the German satellite's entire range of capabilities for the first time. Radar images taken over the course of a ‘voyage around the world’ illustrate the unique data's wide array of applications, among them coastal and water protection activities, monitoring rain forest logging, and measuring the speed of winds, clouds or moving objects on the Earth's surface. The images also clearly illustrate the new technology's high resolution capabilities, an area in which German industry and research are global leaders.

Success story begins just four days after launch

The German radar satellite TerraSAR-X was launched from the cosmodrome at Baikonur, Kazakhstan, on 15 June 2007. It has since been orbiting the Earth at an altitude of approximately 514 kilometres. A mere four days after the launch, the German Remote Sensing Data Center (DFD) in Neustrelitz first recorded data from the satellite. The data was then quickly transformed into initial images at the DLR's Remote Sensing Technology Institute (IMF) in Oberpfaffenhofen. "Having initial images just four days after the launch of a satellite is a world record. It has never been done before with such a complex system," explained Professor Richard Barmler, director of the IMF.

DLR scientists are already very satisfied with the satellite's performance, even though the commissioning phase is still underway and set to last until the end of the year. Until then, the satellite will undergo further tests and its onboard instruments will be calibrated. "Eight weeks after the launch, the German radar satellite is almost fully functional. Over 2,500 data sets are already available with which we can continue to analyse the instrument and the ground infrastructure. The engineers and scientists have done an outstanding job," said Professor Barmler.

TerraSAR-X also on the right commercial path

Besides the scientific goals that DLR has set and pushed forward, a prime objective of the TerraSAR-X mission is to exploit data for commercial purposes. Marketing TerraSAR-X data worldwide for the development of geo-information products ensures the sustainability of the German satellite’s mission. Its successor, TerraSAR-X-2, will be financed with Infoterra GmbH profits.

In Friedrichshafen, too, there is also great satisfaction with the promising initial data that the satellite has delivered. "TerraSAR-X's performance has been impressive," said Infoterra’s CEO Jörg Herrmann. "With the data available to us so far, we have been able to conduct analyses that have generated valuable results," he proudly explained. "The technical conditions for our commercial activity could not be better, and the marketing we have done over recent years is now bearing fruit. Customers have expressed a high level of interest. At the moment, we have more than 2,500 orders from over 40 countries for our initial data."

TerraSAR-X already delivering elevation models – even better models expected from 2009 with TanDEM-X

In addition to initial radar data sets, digital elevation maps based on two TerraSAR-X images are already available. However, due to the time intervals between recordings, this highly precise method of measurement can currently only be applied to arid areas and deserts. The situation will change once TerraSAR-X's sister satellite, TanDEM-X, is up and running. It is expected to be launched in 2009, after which the two satellites will orbit the Earth together. Their systems are almost identical, and each of them will record images from slightly different angles. As a result, stereo information on the same areas will be available, enabling the development of high-precision elevation models.

Radar data to generate a better understanding of complex environmental processes

One of the main purposes of analysing the new information that the satellite provides is to gain a better understanding of our environment. "TerraSAR-X data will help scientists answer the big questions. In particular, we hope to gain insights in the area of environmental management for the world's mega-cities. We also expect TerraSAR-X to provide us with valuable, rapid disaster-management support," stated Professor Stefan Dech, director of the DLR's Remote Sensing Data Center (DFD) in Oberpfaffenhofen.

TerraSAR-X is the first German satellite to be developed and operated on the basis of a Public–Private Partnership. It is the product of cooperation between DLR and Astrium GmbH (Friedrichshafen). DLR is responsible for the scientific utilisation of TerraSAR-X data, and is also for mission design and execution. Astrium provided financing for the development, manufacture and operation of the satellite. Infoterra GmbH, the Astrium subsidiary founded solely for the purpose of this project, is responsible for marketing the data.

About Astrium:

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 and employed approximately 11,000 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, with a workforce of more than 116,000 employees.

About Infoterra:

Infoterra GmbH, Germany, was founded in 2001 for commercial exploitation of the TerraSAR-X data. The company is responsible not only for the commercial distribution of the data, but also for the development and marketing of derived geo-information products and services.

Infoterra GmbH employs 40 people 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 million.

About DLR:

DLR is the Federal Republic of Germany’s national aerospace research centre. 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, 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 at the international level. Furthermore, DLR is the apex organisation for Germany's largest project management agency.

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

Picture gallery: http://www.dlr.de/desktopdefault.aspx/tabid-4313

Press contacts:

Eduard Müller

DLR - German Aerospace Center

Tel.: +49 2203 601 2805

Tel (mobile): +49 173 5307026

Fax: +49 2203 601 3249

E-mail: eduard.mueller@dlr.de

Mareike Doepke

Infoterra GmbH

Tel: +49 7545 8 3924

Fax: +49 75454 8 1337