| Abstract |
SRTM is a joint Shuttle mission (international project) between NASA, DoD/NGA (National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency - formerly NIMA), DLR (Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt, Germany), and ASI (Agenzia Spaziale Italiana). Funding for SRTM is from NIMA [Note: As of Nov. 2003, NIMA (National Intelligence Mapping Agency) changed its name to NGA (National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency)], while NASA is supplying the SIR-C hardware, the Shuttle launch, ground systems, mission operations and data processing support. DLR and ASI are supplying the X-SAR hardware, ground systems, mission operations and data processing support.
SRTM represents a reflight of the basic SIR-C/X-SAR payload instruments on the SRL-1 (STS-59, April 9 - 20, 1994) and SRL-2 (STS-68, Sept, 30 to Oct. 11, 1994) missions. However, the SRTM configuration considers only two independent SAR systems, one in C-band (JPL instrument), the other in X-band (DLR/ASI). Both SAR systems operate with the main antenna of each instrument located in the open cargo bay of the Shuttle, and a second receive antenna mounted on a deployable outboard mast, respectively. The configuration (a bistatic system) for both radar systems represents a single-pass interferometer, also referred to as IFSAR, with a baseline of 60 m (separation of the two antenna systems). The mission is managed by JPL.
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