First TerraSAR-X images received

20 June 2007, 3:07pm

TerraSAR-X Exceeds all Expectations

• German radar satellite transmits first data in record time
• Ground station receives first images only five days after launch
• Scientists and commercial users are enthusiastic

Oberpfaffenhofen/Friedrichshafen/Neustrelitz, 21 June 2007 – Only the most optimistic engineers had even dared to hope what is now a reality: just four days after the German radar satellite TerraSAR-X has been launched from
the Baikonur Cosmodrome, the first brilliant satellite images have been received.
There was loud cheering among the TerraSAR-X teams of the German Aerospace Centre (DLR), Astrium and Infoterra on Tuesday evening, when – only 30 minutes after the data had been received by the ground station in Neustrelitz – the first images appeared on the monitors at the DLR space centre in Oberpfaffenhofen. Although the satellite will only reach its final orbital position in ten days’ time, these data – recorded for test purposes only
– already display a remarkably high quality and level of detail.

“I’m delighted! This national mission once more bears testimony to Germany’s leading international position in radar remote sensing. Our data will be an important source of information for both geoscience research and
commercial applications. And TerraSAR-X will also play a key role in Europe’s GMES Earth observation programme,” says Professor Johann-
Dietrich Wörner, chairman of the DLR.

“These data not only prove the comprehensive technical know-how and longstanding experience of Astrium GmbH in the development and construction of radar satellites and instruments, but also confirm our successful
partnership with the DLR,” stresses Uwe Minne, Director Earth observation and Science of Astrium GmbH.

“These first images impressively demonstrate the capabilities of the satellite system – our commercial business couldn’t be based on a better foundation,” rejoices Jörg Herrmann, managing director of Infoterra GmbH, which will now advance the commercial marketing of the TerraSAR-X data.

Only four days after the successful launch of the new German radar satellite TerraSAR-X, the first images have been acquired, already in an excellent quality.

The first TerraSAR-X image delivered by DLR’s processing system captures a region in Southern Russia, about 500 km northeast of the Black Sea and 50 km west of Wolgograd. The upper part of the image displays the Tsimlyanskoye reservoir, which retains the river Don for purposes of energy generation. A railway bridge across the river Don can be made out in the middle/left of the image, with the railway tracks clearly visible running in a north-eastern direction. The lower part of the image is dominated by large agricultural areas. The variations in colours of the different fields reflects the different crops and growth stages.

The second image is of the island of Vanna, captured in the center of the image, located in Northern Norway, about 250 km southwest of the North Cape. The mountainous topography of this island is displayed very well through the side-looking radar; however, it is slightly geometrically distorted – an effect which can be eliminated. A close look allows for the recognition of boats, as well as houses, displayed as light dots along the coastline.



Find the images at:
www.infoterra.de

www.infoterra.de

Geo: International