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Sensor · Spaceborne

TanDEM-X SAR

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X-band synthetic aperture radar imager flown on TanDEM-X, paired with TerraSAR-X for interferometry and distributed commercially through Airbus's Radar Constellation services.

Sensor

TanDEM-X SAR is an X-band synthetic aperture radar imager carried on the TanDEM-X satellite, developed by DLR and built by Airbus Defence and Space. TanDEM-X was designed to fly in close formation with TerraSAR-X to enable bistatic interferometry, most notably the generation of the WorldDEM global digital elevation model. Airbus commercialises TanDEM-X imagery in constellation with TerraSAR-X under its Radar Constellation services.[1][2]

The instrument operates at 9.65 GHz with chirp bandwidth up to 300 MHz and a 5 m antenna. Full polarimetric combinations are available: HH, VV, HV, and VH. The satellite orbits at approximately 514 km altitude with an 11-day repeat cycle.[1]

TanDEM-X SAR supports five imaging modes:[1]

Mode Swath width Polarisation notes
Staring Spotlight 10 km single or dual; Dual-Receive Antenna mode available
Sliding Spotlight 10 km single or dual
StripMap 30 km single, dual, or bistatic DEM
ScanSAR 100 km single or dual
Bistatic StripMap (DEM) 30 km formation flight with TerraSAR-X

Demonstrated applications include InSAR surface deformation monitoring and SAR backscatter change detection. The polarimetric capability supports polarimetric SAR decomposition workflows.[1]

Operator pricing

Pricing not publicly listed by operator

Supply chain position

addresses Terrain elevation
Methods this sensor implements
Demonstrated
  • InSAR - surface deformation

    TanDEM-X and TerraSAR-X flew as a bistatic single-pass interferometer in close formation to produce a global digital elevation model (DLR TanDEM-X technical concept and mission pages); this is the single-pass topographic use of the method, not repeat-pass deformation.

Capable, undemonstrated

None on record.

Topics this relates to
Geology and geohazardsInSAR - surface deformation(demonstrated)well suited
Permafrost and ground iceInSAR - surface deformation(demonstrated)well suited
Pipeline integrityInSAR - surface deformation(demonstrated)well suited
SubsidenceInSAR - surface deformation(demonstrated)well suited
Terrain elevationInSAR - surface deformation(demonstrated)well suited
Transport infrastructure monitoringInSAR - surface deformation(demonstrated)well suited
Coastal erosionInSAR - surface deformation(demonstrated)adequate
Groundwater and terrestrial water storageInSAR - surface deformation(demonstrated)adequate
Snow water equivalentInSAR - surface deformation(demonstrated)adequate
FloodingInSAR - surface deformation(demonstrated)marginal
Glacier and ice-sheet massInSAR - surface deformation(demonstrated)marginal
Sources
Cite https://eo-atlas.org/products/sensor/tandem-x-sar Markdown twin → Field definitions → Suggest a correction →
How to cite this page

Plain text

TanDEM-X SAR. EO-Atlas, SpectraWorks B.V. https://eo-atlas.org/products/sensor/tandem-x-sar (CC BY 4.0)

BibTeX

@misc{eoatlas:products:sensor:tandem-x-sar,
  title = {TanDEM-X SAR},
  author = {{EO-Atlas}},
  publisher = {SpectraWorks B.V.},
  note = {CC BY 4.0},
  url = {https://eo-atlas.org/products/sensor/tandem-x-sar}
}