Title :
TerraSAR-X active radar ground calibrator system
Author :
Lenz, Rainer ; Schuler, Karin ; Younis, Marwan ; Wiesbeck, Werner
Author_Institution :
Karlsruhe Univ., Germany
fDate :
5/1/2006 12:00:00 AM
Abstract :
In April 2006, the TerraSAR-X satellite was launched. This paper describes the development of a novel and highly integrated, digitally-controlled active SAR system calibrator (DARC). It consists of both an active transponder path for absolute radiometric calibration and a calibrated receiver chain for antenna pattern evaluation of the satellite antenna. A total of 16 active transponder and receiver systems and 17 receiver-only systems will be fabricated for a calibration campaign in 2006.
Keywords :
antenna radiation patterns; calibration; radar antennas; satellite antennas; synthetic aperture radar; transponders; DARC; TerraSAR-X satellite; active radar ground calibrator; active transponder path; antenna pattern evaluation; calibrated receiver chain; digitally-controlled active SAR system calibrator; radiometric calibration; receiver-only systems; satellite antenna; Automatic control; Azimuth; Calibration; Digital control; Radar; Radio frequency; Satellite antennas; Signal analysis; Transmitting antennas; Transponders;
Journal_Title :
Aerospace and Electronic Systems Magazine, IEEE
DOI :
10.1109/MAES.2006.1635172
