TanDEM-X mission status

TanDEM-X (TerraSAR-X add-on for Digital Elevation Measurement) opens a new era in spaceborne radar remote sensing [1]. A single-pass SAR interferometer with adjustable baselines in across- and in along-track directions is formed by adding a second (TDX), almost identical spacecraft to TerraSAR-X (TSX) and flying the two satellites in a closely controlled formation. With typical across-track baselines of 200-400m a global Digital Elevation Model (DEM) with 2m relative height accuracy at a 12 m posting will be generated. Beyond that, TanDEM-X provides a highly reconfigurable platform for the demonstration of new SAR techniques and applications. The TDX satellite was launched on June 21st, 2010 from Baikonur. After finishing the Commissioning Phase early December 2010 data acquisition for the global DEM commenced.