TanDEM-X - a Valuable Partner for TerraSAR-X

TanDEM-X (TerraSAR-X Add-On for Digital Elevation Measurement) a radar satellite almost identical to TerraSAR-X (in orbit since June 2007) will circle the Earth together with TerraSAR-X as a unique satellite formation. In a formation flight at distances of a few kilometres down to less than 200 metres, the “twins” will record data synchronously in the so-called StripMap Mode (3m ground resolution) and thus acquire the data basis for a global Digital Elevation Model (DEM) of an unprecedented quality, accuracy, and coverage.

Within just 3 years this homogeneous elevation model will be available for the Earth’s entire land surface, i.e. 150 Mio. square kilometres. It will feature a vertical accuracy of 2 metres (relative) and 10 meters (absolute), within a horizontal raster of appr. 12x12 square meters, slightly varying depending on the geographic latitude.