TanDEM-X mission status, products and perspectives

Abstract

TanDEM-X is an innovative single-pass interferometric radar mission, which is comprised of two formation flying satellites. The TerraSAR-X (TSX) satellite was launched on June 15th 2007, and its almost identically constructed twin satellite TanDEM-X (TDX) was launched on 21st of June 2010. Together they supply high-quality radar data in order to serve two main mission goals: Scientific observation of the Earth and provision of remote sensing data for the commercial market (TerraSAR-X mission), and the generation of a global digital elevation model (DEM) of the Earth's surface (TanDEM-X mission). Between December 2010 and early 2015, radar data of all land surfaces has been acquired and as of September 2016 the final TanDEM-X DEM dataset has been available. This paper provides a final quality assessment of the TanDEM-X global DEM products with respect to the relative and absolute height accuracy and data coverage both at the global and geocell level. In addition, an overview on current mission status is given and new DEM products, which are currently in the scope of the TanDEM-X mission, are described.