TerraSAR-X/TanDEM-X satellite mission

TerraSAR-X is a joint project between the German Aerospace Center (DLR) and the German industry (Airbus Defence and Space). Operational data acquisition for the TerraSAR-X mission is executed by the two satellites TSX-1 (in orbit since June 2007) and TDX-1 (launch in June 2010). The two identical satellites acquire separately data for the TerraSAR-X mission and jointly execute the TanDEM-X mission data collection.

The instrument timing and pointing of the electronic antenna can be programmed allowing a numerous combinations: Stripmap mode (SM) in single or dual polarization, High Resolution Spotlight mode (HS) in single or dual polarization, Spotlight mode (SL) in single or dual polarization, Staring Spotlight mode (ST) in single polarization, and ScanSAR mode (SC) in single polarization. Further information can be found in the Product Specification ^{DLR, Airbus}.

All TSM/TDM data ordered by DLR-PIs are available on terrabyte. Data availability can be checked via access to private STAC Collection. For the usage of the data, the user license must be accepted. As only DLR employees have the permission to use them (according to BAFA), the TSM/TDM data are stored in a private container and private STAC Collection. An example how to access restricted data and accept its user license can be found in the terrapi explanation.

TerraSAR-X/TanDEM-X

Instrument: Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) in X-Band

Acquisition Modes: Staring Spotlight mode (ST), Spotlight High Resolution (HS), Spot Light (SL), StripMap (SM), and ScanSAR (SC)

Acquisition Date: November 2007 - Juni 2024

Geographical Coverage: 90° N - 90° S

Polarisation: single (HH or VV), dual (HH+HV or VV+VH), or quad polarisation (HH+HV+VV+VH)

Processing Level	Pixel spacing	Product guide	Data Source	Citation
Single Look Slant Range Complex (SSC)	1 m (SL),3 m (SM), 18.5-40 m (SC)	Link	DLR	DLR [year of reception]
Multi Look Ground Range Detected (MGD)	1 m (SL),3 m (SM), 18.5-40 m (SC)	Link	DLR	DLR [year of reception]