TerraSARX

TerraSAR-X is a German Earth observation satellite that carries a high-resolution X-band synthetic aperture radar (SAR) instrument. It was developed by the German Aerospace Center (DLR) in cooperation with Airbus Defence and Space (formerly Astrium) and was launched in 2007. The satellite operates in a sun-synchronous orbit and provides radar imagery regardless of daylight and weather conditions.

The X-band SAR instrument on TerraSAR-X operates at around 9.65 GHz and supports multiple polarization configurations, enabling flexible imaging for different land-cover types. TerraSAR-X offers several imaging modes with varying resolution and swath settings, including stripmap, spotlight, and ScanSAR, delivering data products from sub-meter to a few-meter resolutions over ground swaths ranging from tens to hundreds of kilometers.

TerraSAR-X has a twin satellite, TanDEM-X, launched in 2010. The two satellites fly in close formation to acquire interferometric data used to generate a high-precision digital elevation model (DEM) of the Earth's surface. The mission has produced a globally consistent DEM with high spatial resolution, enabling detailed topographic analysis.

Applications of TerraSAR-X data include mapping, land-use monitoring, forestry, agriculture, urban planning, geology, hydrology, and disaster response. Data are managed under the TerraSAR-X program and are available to governmental, scientific, and commercial users. The mission has contributed to the development of radar remote sensing in Europe and continues to support Earth observation services for various industries.