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Space-based radar

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354: 1189: 43: 1521: 841:, used to acquire data about the planet sub-surface structure. Their low operating frequency allow them to penetrate hundreds of meters, or even kilometers, below the surface. Synthetic aperture techniques are normally exploited to reduce the ground footprint (due to the low operating frequency and the small allowable 431:
to disaster monitoring to vessel traffic surveillance, not to forget the military applications (many civilian SAR satellites are, in fact, dual-use systems). SAR imaging offer the great advantage, over its optical counterparts, of not being affected by meteorological conditions such as clouds, fog,
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observes the same portion of the ocean surface from different (at least 3) angles of view as the satellite passes by, measuring the echo amplitude and the corresponding surface reflectivity. Reflectivity being affected by the ocean surface "roughness", which in turn is affected by the wind and also
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While the SAR, in principle, is similar to its airborne counterparts (with the advantage of the increased coverage and worldwide access offered by the satellite platform), the other two are specific to satellite operations.
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with an accuracy in the order of few centimeters. Additionally, analysis of the echo amplitude and shape can extract information about the wind speed and wave height, respectively. Some radar-altimeters (like
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program), and potentially land vehicles from space. This information would then be relayed to regional and national command centers, as well as
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Most of the radars flown as payload in planetary missions (i.e., not considering avionics radar, such as docking and landing radars used in
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are used for the accurate determination of the geoid, monitoring of tides, ocean currents and other large-scale ocean phenomena such as
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so that diurnal variations of vegetation are ignored, allowing long-term variations to be more accurately measured.
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Earth-observing radar satellites and satellite constellations include the following, with operational dates.
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Other types of radars have been flown for Earth observation missions: precipitation radars such as the
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was a proposed military space-based radar program initiated in February 1998 as a joint Air Force,
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etc., making it the sensor of choice when continuity of data must be ensured. Additionally,
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dimensions, the beam is very wide) and, thus, the unwanted echo from other surface objects.
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are the only instruments capable of penetrating heavy cloud cover around planets such as
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dependent on its direction, this instrument can determine the wind speed and direction.
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techniques: their reduced footprint allows mapping of rougher surfaces like polar ices.
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SARs applications are many: they range from geology to crop monitoring, from
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are of high value for operational meteorology, allowing reconstruction of
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These three types of radar are currently used on several satellites.
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1st and 2nd generation (SAR, Italy, 2007-; 6 satellites as of 2023)
380:-looking radar with very high range resolution, which measures the 762: 614: 485: 377: 352: 264: 229: 214:
program. The concept was to provide high-range-resolution ground
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Tomorrow-R1, the first commercial radar satellite, operated by
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a.k.a. US-A (SAR, Soviet Union, 1967-1988, 33 satellites)
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satellite, which carried three different radar sensors:
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A similar instrument (primarily devoted to ionospheric
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probing) was embarked on the Japanese Martian mission
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Other sounder instruments flown (in this case around
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The 852:(Apollo Lunar Sounder Experiment) on board 1387: 1045: 1026: 1012: 1004: 807:between 2004 and 2017, provided images of 27:Use of radar systems mounted on satellites 531:(scatterometer, United States, 1999-2008) 494:(SAR, altimeter, scatterometer, US, 1978) 127:Learn how and when to remove this message 867:(Mars Advanced Radar for SubSurface and 466:List of Earth-observing radar satellites 228:) is a proposed constellation of active 915: 447:, or cloud radars like the one used on 1088:Psychological and sociological effects 243:, ocean-going vessels (similar to the 500:(altimeter, United States, 1985-1990) 7: 781:also imaged Venus in 1990 and 1994. 65:adding citations to reliable sources 923:Valérie Ciarletti (November 2016). 517:Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission 445:Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission 349:to measure wind speed and direction 237:United States Department of Defense 848:The first radar sounder flown was 25: 505:European Remote-Sensing Satellite 376:A satellite radar-altimeter is a 342:, to measure the ocean topography 335:(SAR) for high-resolution imaging 1519: 1187: 883:(mars SHAllow RADar sounder) on 536:Shuttle Radar Topography Mission 519:(precipitation radar, 1997-2015) 258:Active military radar satellites 41: 895:, launched September 14, 2007. 283:Information Gathering Satellite 52:needs additional citations for 32:Radiolocation-satellite service 1: 906:(launched in 1998 but lost). 534:Shuttle Imaging Radar on the 458:, radar satellites often use 416:on a global scale. Data from 1551:Earth observation satellites 992:"The Space Based Radar Plan" 784:The only other target of an 603:, planned for launch in 2025 554:(SAR, ISRO India, 2012-2016) 456:Earth observation satellites 987:Northrop Grumman info sheet 889:Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter 710:(L band SAR constellation, 696:(planned to launch in 2024) 595:Sentinel-6 Michael Freilich 1572: 944:10.1016/J.CRHY.2016.07.022 538:(SAR, United States, 2000) 180:Earth-observing satellites 29: 1515: 1185: 759:Synthetic aperture radars 488:(Soviet Union, 1973-1977) 1556:Synthetic aperture radar 932:Comptes Rendus. Physique 817:Synthetic Aperture Radar 382:ocean surface topography 333:synthetic aperture radar 315:purposes was started by 311:Use of radar sensor for 254:airborne command posts. 216:moving target indication 188:synthetic aperture radar 30:Not to be confused with 982:Globalsecurity.org page 871:Sounding) on board the 525:(SAR, Japan, 1998-2001) 299:Italian COSMO - Skymed 1526:Outer space portal 792:, the largest moon of 721:(United States, 2023-) 636:(SAR, Canadian, 2007-) 630:; 5 satellites, 2006-) 565:Jason satellite series 460:Sun-synchronous orbits 429:measurement of sea ice 362: 361:from Umbra space radar 307:Earth-observing radars 202:In the United States, 144: 1158:Extraterrestrial life 873:European Space Agency 676:European Space Agency 546:European Space Agency 356: 142: 977:Air Force fact sheet 658:(SAR, Israel, 2008-) 172:Earth orbiting radar 61:improve this article 76:"Space-based radar" 1441:Other technologies 997:Air Force Magazine 994:, John A. Tirpak, 434:SAR interferometry 391:synthetic aperture 363: 145: 1533: 1532: 1511: 1510: 1420:Carbonated drinks 1392:Human spaceflight 1272:of items in space 1183: 1182: 788:mission has been 544:(SAR, altimeter, 503:ERS-1 and ERS-2 ( 313:Earth observation 222:Space-based radar 148:Space-based radar 137: 136: 129: 111: 18:Space-Based Radar 16:(Redirected from 1563: 1524: 1523: 1522: 1388: 1191: 1046: 1028: 1021: 1014: 1005: 964: 963: 929: 920: 803:, which orbited 775:Radar altimeters 739:Planetary radars 628:German Air Force 418:radar altimeters 186:, have employed 176:geocentric orbit 152:spaceborne radar 132: 125: 121: 118: 112: 110: 69: 45: 37: 21: 1571: 1570: 1566: 1565: 1564: 1562: 1561: 1560: 1536: 1535: 1534: 1529: 1520: 1518: 1507: 1436: 1377: 1242: 1192: 1179: 1104: 1037: 1032: 973: 968: 967: 927: 922: 921: 917: 912: 835:Sounding radars 821:radar altimeter 741: 728: 674:constellation, 561: 476: 468: 395:interferometric 389:/SIRAL) employ 340:radar altimeter 309: 260: 200: 133: 122: 116: 113: 70: 68: 58: 46: 35: 28: 23: 22: 15: 12: 11: 5: 1569: 1567: 1559: 1558: 1553: 1548: 1538: 1537: 1531: 1530: 1516: 1513: 1512: 1509: 1508: 1506: 1505: 1500: 1495: 1490: 1489: 1488: 1487: 1486: 1484:for spacecraft 1481: 1473: 1468: 1460: 1455: 1450: 1444: 1442: 1438: 1437: 1435: 1434: 1429: 1424: 1423: 1422: 1412: 1407: 1402: 1396: 1394: 1385: 1379: 1378: 1376: 1375: 1370: 1365: 1360: 1355: 1350: 1349: 1348: 1338: 1333: 1328: 1323: 1318: 1313: 1308: 1307: 1306: 1301: 1291: 1286: 1281: 1276: 1275: 1274: 1269: 1261: 1256: 1250: 1248: 1244: 1243: 1241: 1240: 1239: 1238: 1228: 1223: 1218: 1213: 1208: 1202: 1200: 1194: 1193: 1186: 1184: 1181: 1180: 1178: 1177: 1176: 1175: 1165: 1163:Microorganisms 1160: 1155: 1154: 1153: 1148: 1143: 1138: 1133: 1128: 1123: 1112: 1110: 1106: 1105: 1103: 1102: 1097: 1092: 1091: 1090: 1080: 1075: 1070: 1065: 1060: 1058:The human body 1054: 1052: 1043: 1039: 1038: 1033: 1031: 1030: 1023: 1016: 1008: 1002: 1001: 1000:, August, 2002 989: 984: 979: 972: 971:External links 969: 966: 965: 938:(9): 966–975. 914: 913: 911: 908: 779:Magellan probe 755:Imaging radars 740: 737: 736: 735: 727: 724: 723: 722: 715: 705: 704: 703: 697: 691: 685: 669: 659: 653: 647: 637: 631: 621: 612: 606: 605: 604: 598: 592: 586: 580: 574: 571:TOPEX/Poseidon 560: 557: 556: 555: 549: 539: 532: 526: 520: 514: 508: 501: 495: 489: 483: 475: 472: 467: 464: 410:Scatterometers 351: 350: 343: 336: 308: 305: 304: 303: 297: 291: 285: 279: 273: 267: 259: 256: 199: 196: 178:. A number of 174:is a radar in 166:is a radar in 164:orbiting radar 135: 134: 49: 47: 40: 26: 24: 14: 13: 10: 9: 6: 4: 3: 2: 1568: 1557: 1554: 1552: 1549: 1547: 1544: 1543: 1541: 1528: 1527: 1514: 1504: 1501: 1499: 1496: 1494: 1491: 1485: 1482: 1480: 1477: 1476: 1474: 1472: 1469: 1467: 1464: 1463: 1461: 1459: 1456: 1454: 1453:Manufacturing 1451: 1449: 1446: 1445: 1443: 1439: 1433: 1430: 1428: 1425: 1421: 1418: 1417: 1416: 1413: 1411: 1408: 1406: 1403: 1401: 1398: 1397: 1395: 1393: 1389: 1386: 1384: 1380: 1374: 1371: 1369: 1366: 1364: 1361: 1359: 1356: 1354: 1351: 1347: 1344: 1343: 1342: 1339: 1337: 1334: 1332: 1329: 1327: 1324: 1322: 1319: 1317: 1314: 1312: 1309: 1305: 1302: 1300: 1297: 1296: 1295: 1292: 1290: 1287: 1285: 1282: 1280: 1277: 1273: 1270: 1268: 1265: 1264: 1262: 1260: 1257: 1255: 1252: 1251: 1249: 1245: 1237: 1234: 1233: 1232: 1229: 1227: 1226:Magnetosphere 1224: 1222: 1219: 1217: 1214: 1212: 1209: 1207: 1204: 1203: 1201: 1199: 1195: 1190: 1174: 1171: 1170: 1169: 1166: 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847: 834: 833: 812: 798: 783: 754: 753: 742: 650:COSMO-SkyMed 624:SAR Lupe 1-5 583:OSTM/Jason-2 548:, 2002-2012) 469: 453: 442: 426: 407: 399: 375: 371: 364: 310: 301:COSMO-SkyMed 225: 221: 220: 201: 171: 163: 151: 147: 146: 123: 114: 104: 97: 90: 83: 71: 59:Please help 54:verification 51: 1316:Exploration 1254:Advertising 1198:Environment 1173:Astrobotany 1136:Fruit flies 879:probe, and 719:Tomorrow.io 700:Sentinel-1D 694:Sentinel-1C 690:(2016-2021) 688:Sentinel-1B 682:Sentinel-1A 601:Sentinel-6B 585:(2008-2019) 579:(2001-2013) 573:(1992-2006) 454:Like other 414:wind fields 160:outer space 1540:Categories 1498:Telescopes 1383:Technology 1236:Weathering 1083:Psychology 1068:Locomotion 960:Q106518362 910:References 869:Ionosphere 829:radiometer 672:Sentinel-1 640:TerraSAR-X 634:RADARSAT-2 511:RADARSAT-1 233:satellites 182:, such as 87:newspapers 1479:for Earth 1466:Batteries 1448:Logistics 1400:Accidents 1346:Christmas 1211:Corrosion 1151:Tortoises 1109:Non-human 952:1878-1535 856:in 1972. 854:Apollo 17 771:Venera 16 767:Venera 15 712:Argentina 702:(planned) 357:Image of 281:Japanese 269:American 252:E-10 MC2A 1341:Religion 1331:Military 1267:of Earth 1146:Primates 1073:Medicine 956:Wikidata 714:, 2018-) 668:, 2010-) 662:TanDEM-X 646:, 2007-) 619:MetOp-SG 609:CloudSat 529:QuikSCAT 474:Inactive 449:Cloudsat 295:Huanjing 293:Chinese 289:SAR-Lupe 275:Russian 271:Lacrosse 241:aircraft 235:for the 198:Military 184:RADARSAT 117:May 2021 1503:Weapons 1471:Nuclear 1432:Writing 1427:Toilets 1410:Farming 1358:Tourism 1353:Selfies 1294:Economy 1259:Alcohol 1247:Society 1231:Weather 1206:Climate 1116:Animals 1063:Hygiene 1042:Biology 863:), are 843:antenna 813:Cassini 809:Titan's 799:Cassini 726:Planned 684:(2014-) 666:Germany 644:Germany 597:(2020-) 591:(2016-) 589:Jason-3 577:Jason-1 552:RISAT-1 542:Envisat 422:El Niño 400:A wind 393:and/or 387:CryoSat 345:a wind 287:German 263:Indian 101:scholar 1475:Solar 1462:Power 1458:Mining 1363:Voting 1311:Ethics 1299:Mining 1284:Burial 1216:Debris 1168:Plants 958:  950:  904:Nozomi 900:plasma 893:SELENE 881:SHARAD 865:MARSIS 839:Radars 805:Saturn 794:Saturn 777:. The 745:Apollo 708:SAOCOM 678:, SAR 656:TecSAR 626:(SAR, 559:Active 523:JERS-1 498:Geosat 492:Seasat 480:RORSAT 367:Seasat 365:After 325:Seasat 277:Kondor 245:Soviet 210:, and 103:  96:  89:  82:  74:  1493:Radar 1373:Women 1336:Music 1304:Trade 1131:Frogs 1100:Sleep 1050:Human 928:(PDF) 801:probe 790:Titan 763:Venus 732:NISAR 664:(SAR 642:(SAR 615:MetOp 486:Almaz 378:nadir 265:RISAT 230:radar 208:DARPA 192:Earth 170:and 168:orbit 156:radar 154:is a 143:ORS-2 108:JSTOR 94:books 1415:Food 1321:Food 1221:Dust 1141:Mice 1126:Dogs 1121:Cats 948:ISSN 861:Mars 850:ALSE 827:and 769:and 747:and 438:SRTM 317:NASA 248:US-A 80:news 1368:War 1326:Law 1279:Art 1095:Sex 940:doi 887:'s 885:JPL 875:'s 749:LEM 323:'s 321:JPL 226:SBR 212:NRO 150:or 63:by 1542:: 954:. 946:. 936:17 934:. 930:. 831:. 823:, 819:, 757:: 451:. 424:. 338:a 331:a 194:. 162:; 1027:e 1020:t 1013:v 962:. 942:: 319:/ 224:( 130:) 124:( 119:) 115:( 105:· 98:· 91:· 84:· 57:. 34:. 20:)

Index

Space-Based Radar
Radiolocation-satellite service

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radar
outer space
orbit
geocentric orbit
Earth-observing satellites
RADARSAT
synthetic aperture radar
Earth
Discoverer II
DARPA
NRO
moving target indication
radar
satellites
United States Department of Defense
aircraft

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