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X-SAR

In addition to its contributions to the ESAERS (led by Germany with a 24% contribution) and the ESA/EUMETSAT Meteosat programs, German interest in Earth observation studies is reflected in the X-SAR payload to be flown on several US Shuttle missions and, to a lesser extent, the STS-Spacelab D2 mission of April-May,1993. The X-SAR (X-band Synthetic Aperture Radar) was developed jointly by Germany (Dornier) and Italy (Alenia), uses a 3.3 kW peak power beam to scan a swath of 15-45 km with resolutions as low as 10 m, and was first flown on STS-59 in April, 1994 with a reflight on STS-68 in September, 1994 (Reference 559).

559. "DASA Ships Radar For Shuttle Mission", Aviation Week and Space Technology, 26 October 1992, p. 75.

Sources and Resources

• Adapted from: Europe and Asia in Space 1993-1994, Nicholas Johnson and David Rodvold [Kaman Sciences / Air Force Phillips Laboratory]

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