Non-nominal Experimental Bistatic SAR Acquisitions with TanDEM-X

摘要

TanDEM-X is a high-resolution interferometric mission with the main goal of providing a global and unprecedentedlyrnaccurate digital elevation model (DEM) of the Earth surface by means of single-pass X-band SAR interferometry. Despiternits usual quasi-monostatic configuration, TanDEM-X is the first genuinely bistatic SAR system in space. During itsrnmonostatic commissioning phase, the system has been mainly operated in pursuit monostatic mode. However, somernpioneering bistatic SAR experiments with both satellites commanded in non-nominal modes have been conducted withrnthemain purpose of testing the performance of both space and ground segments in very demanding scenarios. In particular,rnthis paper reports about the first bistatic acquisition and the first single-pass interferometric (mono/bistatic) acquisitionrnwith TanDEM-X, addressing their innovative aspects and focussing on the analysis of the experimental results. Evenrnin the absence of essential synchronisation and calibration information, bistatic images and interferograms with similarrnquality to pursuit monostatic have been obtained.