The future of X-band SAR: TerraSAR-X next generation and WorldSAR constellation

This paper presents an overview of the TerraSAR-X Next Generation mission that will ensure the TerraSAR-X data and service continuity. The benefits of the new mission to the SAR user community will be the mission´s focus on the high demand of Very High Resolution (VHR) products with improved performance and large area SAR products for monitoring applications. The presented current mission status complements this overview. Furthermore, the current extension of TerraSAR-X capabilities being implemented as a staring Spotlight mode with improved azimuth resolution as well as a comparison to the existing sliding Spotlight mode is described. Constellation operations will start 2014 with incorporation of TerraSAR-X and the Spanish PAZ satellite. This is a cooperation approach between different nations that becomes a blueprint for the next generation VHR constellation with TerraSAR-X NG satellites called WorldSAR. The WorldSAR concept is introduced in this paper.