# TerraSAR-X
*missions*

## Specifications
- **operator**: dlr
- **actual launch**: 2007-06-15
- **current status**: extended
- **orbit type**: Sun-synchronous near-polar orbit, 514-515 km
- **swath km**: 100
- **revisit days**: 11
- **tasking supported**: true
- **current geographic priority**: Global high-resolution X-band SAR imaging for scientific and commercial applications
- **launch vehicle**: dnepr
- **entity type**: mission
- **last verified date**: 2026-06-14
- **verified by**: agency-doc
- **claim status**: agency-sourced
- **provider**: dlr
- **attributes**: {"operator":"dlr","actual_launch":"2007-06-15","current_status":"extended","orbit_type":"Sun-synchronous near-polar orbit, 514-515 km","swath_km":100,"revisit_days":11,"tasking_supported":true,"current_geographic_priority":"Global high-resolution X-band SAR imaging for scientific and commercial applications","launch_vehicle":"dnepr"}
- **relevance**: in-scope

## Editorial
TerraSAR-X is a high-resolution X-band synthetic aperture radar (SAR) mission operated by DLR, launched on 2007-06-15 into a sun-synchronous near-polar orbit at approximately 514-515 km altitude with an 11-day repeat cycle.[^dlr-terrasar-x][^wmo-terrasar-x] The mission was developed under a public-private partnership with Airbus DS, which holds commercial exploitation rights and supports commercial tasking access.[^dlr-terrasar-x] TerraSAR-X carries an X-band SAR instrument offering multiple imaging modes including high-resolution Spotlight, StripMap, and wide-area ScanSAR modes reaching swaths of up to 100 km.[^ceos-terrasar-x] The instrument design and system architecture are described by Werninghaus and Buckreuss (2009).[^werninghaus-buckreuss-2009] The mission has operated beyond its original design life and remains in an extended operational phase as of 2026-06-14.[^dlr-terrasar-x] Applications include ground subsidence measurement via interferometry, disaster damage assessment, sea-ice monitoring, and land-cover change detection.[^dlr-terrasar-x][^werninghaus-buckreuss-2009] The companion TanDEM-X mission, launched in 2010, operates alongside TerraSAR-X to generate global digital elevation models through bistatic SAR.[^dlr-terrasar-x]

## Compositional position
- TerraSAR-X --[mission_payloads]--> terrasar-x-sar (products)
- TerraSAR-X --[related-topic]--> subsidence (topics)
- TerraSAR-X --[related-topic]--> disaster-damage-assessment (topics)
- TerraSAR-X --[related-topic]--> sea-ice (topics)

## Sources
- [dlr-terrasar-x] | DLR TerraSAR-X mission overview | https://www.dlr.de/en/research-and-transfer/projects-and-missions/terrasar-x | tier=agency-doc | accessed=2026-06-14
- [wmo-terrasar-x] | WMO OSCAR satellite record: TerraSAR-X | https://space.oscar.wmo.int/satellites/view/terrasar_x | tier=agency-doc | accessed=2026-06-14
- [ceos-terrasar-x] | CEOS mission summary: TerraSAR-X | https://database.eohandbook.com/database/missionsummary.aspx?missionID=391 | tier=agency-doc | accessed=2026-06-14
- [werninghaus-buckreuss-2009] | The TerraSAR-X Mission and System Design | https://elib.dlr.de/63943/1/tgrs-RWerninghaus-2031062-proof.pdf | tier=peer-reviewed | accessed=2026-06-14 | published=2009-01-01

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Source: https://eo-atlas.org/missions/terrasar-x
Maintainer: SpectraWorks B.V. (CC-BY 4.0)