TanDEM-X mission status

TanDEM-X (TerraSAR-X add-on for Digital Elevation Measurement) opens a new era in spaceborne radar remote sensing [1]. A single-pass SAR interferometer with adjustable baselines in across- and in along-track directions is formed by adding a second (TDX), almost identical spacecraft to TerraSAR-X (TSX) and flying the two satellites in a closely controlled formation. With typical across-track baselines of 150 - 400 m a global Digital Elevation Model (DEM) with 2 m relative height accuracy at a 12 m posting will be generated. Beyond that, TanDEM-X provides a highly reconfigurable platform for the demonstration of new SAR techniques and applications. The TDX satellite was launched on June 21^st, 2010 from Baikonur. After finishing the Commissioning Phase early December 2010 data acquisition for the global DEM commenced.