Cross-platform spaceborne Sar imaging: Demonstration using TanDEM-X

The possibility of combining data acquired with different platforms to generate a single SAR image results in an advantageous relaxation of the timing and sampling requirements of the system which can be used to improve in different ways its performance. We report about a generalised approach for distributed SAR image formation which is based on a platform dedicated compensation of the observation geometry followed by a differential calibration of the data. The validity of the approach on simulated data is presented. Further tests with actual data from a TanDEM-X dedicated campaign are being conducted.