The SIR-C/X-SAR Synthetic Aperture Radar system

Author

Jordan, Rolando L. ; Huneycutt, Bryan L. ; Werner, Marian

Author_Institution

Jet Propulsion Lab., California Inst. of Technol., Pasadena, CA, USA

Volume

33

Issue

4

fYear

1995

fDate

7/1/1995 12:00:00 AM

Firstpage

829

Lastpage

839

Abstract

The Spaceborne Imaging Radar-C/X-Band Synthetic Aperture Radar (SIR-C/X-SAR) was a joint United States/German/Italian space agency imaging radar system successfully flown aboard the shuttle Endeavor in April 1994 and again in September/October 1994. The multifaceted SIR-C/X-SAR represents a major technological step forward in radar remote sensing and is the first spaceborne multifrequency, polarimetric SAR. The United States developed SIR-C operated at L- and C-band, each with quad polarization. The SIR-C antenna was an active phased array, with the capability for electronic beam steering and multiple swath width illumination. The German/Italian X-SAR operated at X-band with a single polarization using a slotted waveguide antenna, mechanically steerable in elevation. SIR-C and X-SAR were designed to operate synchronously, collecting data over common sites synchronously. A total of 143 hours (93 terabits) of SAR data were recorded on tape

Keywords

geophysical equipment; geophysical techniques; radar antennas; radar applications; radar equipment; radar imaging; radar polarimetry; remote sensing by radar; spaceborne radar; synthetic aperture radar; SHF microwave; SIR-C; Spaceborne Imaging Radar-C; X-Band Synthetic Aperture Radar; X-SAR; X-band; geophysical equipment; land surface; measurement technique; mechanical steering; radar imaging; satellite remote sensing; slotted waveguide antenna; spaceborne multifrequency radar polarimetry; synthetic aperture radar; terrain mapping; Antenna arrays; Phased arrays; Polarization; Radar imaging; Radar polarimetry; Radar remote sensing; Space shuttles; Space technology; Spaceborne radar; Synthetic aperture radar;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Geoscience and Remote Sensing, IEEE Transactions on

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

0196-2892

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/36.406669

Filename

406669