TerraSAR-X launched successfully!
Today marked the start of a new era in earth observation using the next generation of radar satellites. The new German radar satellite TerraSAR-X was launched successfully from Baikonur in Kazakhstan. After less than two hours the full command link to the spacecraft could already be established. The satellite will provide radar data with up to 1 meter resolution.
Within a few weeks also Canada's next-generation RADARSAT-2 satellite will be launched from Baikonur. RADARSAT-2 will provide 3m high-resolution imaging and dramatically improved information content by offering several polarizations.
Monitoring systems
Regional scale tropical forest monitoring (details of 50-1000m).
High resolution tropical forest monitoring (details of 20-30m).
Local surveillance with TerraSAR-X radar or low-cost aircraft systems (details up to 1 m).
Application fields
- Biodiversity conservation (e.g. mapping and monitoring wildlife habitat)
- Legal and Sustainable Forest/Plantation Monitoring (e.g. pulp and paper, palm oil) production monitoring