# TerraSAR-X SAR
*sensor . products*

High-frequency X-band synthetic aperture radar imager used by TerraSAR-X and distributed commercially through Airbus's Radar Constellation services.

## Specifications
- **product status**: operational
- **manufacturer**: airbus-ds
- **sensor**: {"instrument_family":"sar","measurement_principle":"active","frequency_band":"X","centre_frequency_mhz":9650,"chirp_bandwidth_mhz":300,"polarisation_modes":["HH","VV","HV","VH"],"incidence_angle_range_deg":[20,60],"antenna_length_m":5,"modes":[{"name":"SpotLight","resolution_range_m":1,"resolution_azimuth_m":1.5,"swath_km":10,"polarisation":"single/dual"},{"name":"StripMap","resolution_range_m":3,"resolution_azimuth_m":3,"swath_km":30,"polarisation":"single/dual"},{"name":"ScanSAR","resolution_range_m":16,"resolution_azimuth_m":16,"swath_km":100,"polarisation":"single/dual"}],"swath_km":100,"notes":"DLR gives 5-150 MHz nominal transmit bandwidth and 300 MHz experimental; chirp_bandwidth_mhz records the documented maximum."}
- **deployment context**: orbital
- **entity type**: sensor
- **last verified date**: 2026-05-28
- **verified by**: agency-doc
- **claim status**: unclaimed
- **provider**: airbus-ds
- **attributes**: {"kind":"sensor","product_status":"operational","manufacturer":"airbus-ds","description":"High-frequency X-band synthetic aperture radar imager used by TerraSAR-X and distributed commercially through Airbus's Radar Constellation services.","sensor":"{\"instrument_family\":\"sar\",\"measurement_principle\":\"active\",\"frequency_band\":\"X\",\"centre_frequency_mhz\":9650,\"chirp_bandwidth_mhz\":300,\"polarisation_modes\":[\"HH\",\"VV\",\"HV\",\"VH\"],\"incidence_angle_range_deg\":[20,60],\"antenna_length_m\":5,\"modes\":[{\"name\":\"SpotLight\",\"resolution_range_m\":1,\"resolution_azimuth_m\":1.5,\"swath_km\":10,\"polarisation\":\"single/dual\"},{\"name\":\"StripMap\",\"resolution_range_m\":3,\"resolution_azimuth_m\":3,\"swath_km\":30,\"polarisation\":\"single/dual\"},{\"name\":\"ScanSAR\",\"resolution_range_m\":16,\"resolution_azimuth_m\":16,\"swath_km\":100,\"polarisation\":\"single/dual\"}],\"swath_km\":100,\"notes\":\"DLR gives 5-150 MHz nominal transmit bandwidth and 300 MHz experimental; chirp_bandwidth_mhz records the documented maximum.\"}","bus":null,"ground_segment":null,"launcher":null,"analysis_service":null,"deployment_context":"orbital"}
- **technology**: radar

## Editorial
TerraSAR-X SAR is an X-band synthetic aperture radar imager carried on the TerraSAR-X satellite, operated under a public-private partnership between DLR and Airbus Defence and Space. DLR holds responsibility for the scientific mission and ground segment; Airbus handles commercial exploitation and distributes imagery through its Radar Constellation services, which also includes TanDEM-X and PAZ.[^dlr-terrasar-x][^dlr-terrasar-x-radarcon]

The instrument operates at 9.65 GHz with a nominal chirp bandwidth of 5-150 MHz and a documented maximum of 300 MHz. The antenna is 5 m in length and the instrument supports incidence angles between 20 and 60 degrees. Polarisation modes available are HH, VV, HV, and VH.[^dlr-terrasar-x]

TerraSAR-X SAR supports three primary imaging modes:[^dlr-terrasar-x][^dlr-terrasar-x-radarcon]

| Mode | Range resolution | Azimuth resolution | Swath width | Polarisation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SpotLight | 1 m | 1.5 m | 10 km | single or dual |
| StripMap | 3 m | 3 m | 30 km | single or dual |
| ScanSAR | 16 m | 16 m | 100 km | single or dual |

Demonstrated applications include InSAR surface deformation monitoring and SAR backscatter change detection. The instrument's polarimetric capability supports polarimetric SAR decomposition workflows.[^dlr-terrasar-x]

## Compositional position
- terrasar-x (missions) --[mission_payloads]--> TerraSAR-X SAR

## Sources
- [dlr-terrasar-x] | TerraSAR-X mission overview and system parameters, DLR | https://www.dlr.de/en/research-and-transfer/projects-and-missions/terrasar-x | tier=agency-doc | accessed=2026-05-28
- [dlr-terrasar-x-radarcon] | The German Satellite Mission TerraSAR-X, DLR RadarCon 2008 | https://elib.dlr.de/53746/01/RadarCon2008_TerraSAR-X.pdf | tier=agency-doc | accessed=2026-05-28

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