SIR-C/X-SAR: A multifaceted radar

Author

Stuhr, Frederick ; Jordan, Rolando ; Werner, Marion

Author_Institution

Jet Propulsion Lab., California Inst. of Technol., Pasadena, CA, USA

Volume

10

Issue

10

fYear

1995

fDate

10/1/1995 12:00:00 AM

Firstpage

15

Lastpage

24

Abstract

The multifaceted Spaceborne Imaging Radar-C/X-band Synthetic Aperture Radar (SIR-C/X-SAR) was successfully flown twice in 1994 aboard the Shuttle Endeavour as part of an international imaging radar mission. The United States SIR-C operated at L- and C-band, each with multiple polarization, utilizing an active phased array antenna. The German/Italian X-SAR operated at X-band with a single polarization. SIR-C and X-SAR operated synchronously to collect data over common sites. Data were collected for repeat-track interferometric processing at all three frequencies. A total of 143 hours (93 terabits) of SAR data were digitally recorded on tape over the two flights for subsequent processing in the U.S., Germany, and Italy. This advanced multifrequency/multipolarization system has produced a rich radar data set for Earth scientific investigation and demonstration of spaceborne radar remote sensing capabilities

Keywords

active antenna arrays; antenna phased arrays; microwave imaging; radar imaging; remote sensing by radar; spaceborne radar; synthetic aperture radar; C-band; L-band; SIR-C/X-SAR; X-band; active phased array antenna; imaging radar mission; multifaceted radar; radar data set; remote sensing capabilities; repeat-track interferometric processing; spaceborne imaging radar; synthetic aperture radar; Antenna arrays; Earth; Frequency; Phased arrays; Polarization; Radar antennas; Radar imaging; Radar remote sensing; Spaceborne radar; Synthetic aperture radar;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Aerospace and Electronic Systems Magazine, IEEE

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

0885-8985

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/62.469794

Filename

469794