Title :
The TERRASAR-X active phased array antenna
Author :
Stangl, M. ; Werninghaus, R. ; Zahn, R.
Author_Institution :
Astrium GmbH, Friedrichshafen, Germany
Abstract :
TerraSAR-X is an X-band synthetic aperture radar satellite which is financed, designed, built and operated in frame of a public-private partnership between the German Aerospace Center DLR and Astrium GmbH. The TerraSAR Frontend is based on the DLR funded technology program DESA [R. Zahn et al., June 2002]. End of 2005, TerraSAR X will be launched into a circular, sun-synchronous 514 km dusk-dawn orbit. The use of an active phased array antenna allows for a wide variety of advanced SAR modes like ScanSAR or SpotlightSAR. This supports the commercial use of the radar for earth observation services and also offers through its flexibility a good experimental platform for radar scientists. The design drivers for the array are not only antenna performance but mainly the thermal stability, mass and power efficiency and cost effectiveness.
Keywords :
active antenna arrays; antenna phased arrays; radar antennas; satellite antennas; synthetic aperture radar; Astrium GmbH; German Aerospace Center DLR; TerraSAR-X; X-band synthetic aperture radar satellite; active phased array antenna; earth observation services; Antenna arrays; Aperture antennas; Assembly; Calibration; Phased arrays; Polarization; Radar antennas; Radio frequency; Satellite antennas; Spaceborne radar;
Conference_Titel :
Phased Array Systems and Technology, 2003. IEEE International Symposium on
Print_ISBN :
0-7803-7827-X
DOI :
10.1109/PAST.2003.1256959
