Final TerraSAR-X Calibration Results Based on Novel Efficient Methods

TerraSAR-X is a satellite mission for scientific and commercial applications operating a highly flexible X-band synthetic aperture radar (SAR) instrument with a multitude of different operation modes. As product quality is of crucial importance, the success or failure of the mission depends essentially on the method of calibrating TerraSAR-X in an efficient way during commissioning the entire system in a restricted time. Only then, product quality and the correct in-orbit operation of the entire SAR system can be ensured. This paper describes the in-orbit calibration method for TerraSAR-X and dedicated activities performed during the commissioning phase as well as final results derived from all calibration procedures.