TanDEM-X SAR System Verification Mathias Weigt, Ulrich Steinbrecher, Thomas Kraus, Johannes Böer, Benjamin Bräutigam 07-09 November 2011
Overview Monostatic Commissioning Phase Verification of Power/Thermal Constraints Raw Data Saturation Inter-Satellite Interference Instrument Noise Power Accuracy of Repeat Pass Acquisitions Doppler Centroid Statistics Bistatic Commissioning Phase Exclusion Zone Functionality Verification SyncWarning Performance Verification SyncPulse Performance Verification Slide 2
TanDEM-X and TerraSAR-X Mission Overview TanDEM-X Misson For a data acquisition both satellites TerraSAR-X and TanDEM-X are required TerraSAR-X Mission For a data acquisition either TerraSAR-X or TanDEM-X satellite is used Mission Goal TerraSAR-X and TanDEM-X are operated in two missions Operated at their limits TerraSAR-X and TanDEM-X flying in Close Formation Special requirements for illumination avoidance and attitude and orbit control Mission Goal Generation of a global Digital Elevation Model Monostatic acquistions for scientific and commercial users Slide 3
TanDEM-X commissioning phase - a two-step approach 1. Monostatic commissioning phase Goal: Fully integrate TDX-1 in the TerraSAR-X mission 2. Bistatic commissioning phase Goal: Start systematic global DEM data acquisition TDX-1 Launch 1 month Day 90 FQR Repeat Cycle -2. -1. 0. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. LEOP GS / SC Checkout TDX Commissioning Phase 6 cycles 5 cycles Test, verification and calibration of TDX-1 satellite Maneuvers Maintenance Bistatic CP Bistatic commanding and synchronization First DEM performance Global DEM Acquisition 20 km formation Close formation (400 m) 21.06.2010 22.07.2010 14.10.2010 12.12.2010 Slide 4
Pursuit Monostatic Commissioning Phase (Mono-CP) TDX-1 TSX-1 20 km Slide 5
Power/Thermal Test Results (I) Power Thermal Test Verification of TanDEM-X Instrument Performance Phase and Amplitude Stability of TRMs Units within limits of temperature range Battery performance (charging and discharging behaviour) Validation of Mission Planning Power/Thermal Model Modulation of Power Consumption of DataTake Modulation of Battery charging level (voltage) Requirement for extended TanDEM-X Mission aspects Slide 6
Power/Thermal Test Results (II) Panel Temperature Verification of operational scenario (TanDEM-X Mission) and operational system (TanDEM-X) Antenna Panel Temperature TRM performance verfication DTs performed 35.00 30.00 25.00 20.00 15.00 10.00 5.00 0.00-5.00 Stable Amplitude: Max Deviation: < 0.9dB Minor changes in Phase: Max. Deviation: 15-10.00-15.00 Cold Phase Warm-Up Phase Hot Phase 2010.186.00.00.06 2010.186.04.30.56 2010.186.09.01.46 2010.186.13.32.49 2010.186.18.03.39 2010.186.22.34.29 2010.187.03.05.19 2010.187.07.36.09 2010.187.12.06.59 2010.187.16.37.49 2010.187.21.08.39 2010.188.01.39.29 2010.188.06.10.19 2010.188.10.41.09 UTC Temperature of panels within allowed temperature range of -15 C to 60 C Slide 7 Temperature [ C]
Raw Data Saturation Raw data power and saturation were evaluated for 2557 TDX-1 datatakes TDX-1 Raw Data saturation: more than 99% blocks without saturation Analysis on 1324 pursuit monostatic DTs showed a power imbalance between the two satellites (TSX-1 is 2 to 4 db higher) commanding configuration of TDX-1 adapted TSX vs TDX 10 8 update of TDX-1 configuration 23 rd August, 10:00UTC TSX-1 / TDX-1 [db] 6 4 2 0-2 In phase component Quadrature component -4 0 100 200 300 400 500 Data take couple Slide 8
Mono-CP Results: Inter-Satellite Interferences TDX-1 TSX-1 Interference Spectogram Direct Inter-Satellite Interference TDX-1 starts DT approx. 3s after TSX-1, but then the pulse repetition interval (PRI) is equal on both Satellites Counter measure: using different chirps (up / down) for the satellites No impact on TanDEM-X Mission due to synchronized start time of DTs TSX-1 TDX-1
Accuracy of Repeat Pass Acquisitions monostatic DT during bistatic experiments Along track difference between commanded start position and real start position Outstanding accuracy achieved Slide 10
Mono-CP Results: Doppler Centroid Statistics TDX-1 orbit drift towards TSX-1 TDX-1 Doppler centroid is as low as for TSX-1 smaller than 120Hz No incidence angle dependency Slide 11
Bistatic Commissioning Phase (Bistatic-CP) Slide 12
Exclusion Zone Functionality Verification (I) HELIX HELIX TDX 65 50 TDX-1 TDX may not transmit in asc. orbit TSX DEM DEM exclusion zones (example) 30 0 TSX-1 TDX-1 TSX-1 possible beams & side-lobes Standard beams TSX may not transmit in desc. orbit Avoid risk of mutual radar illumination during close formation flight Slide 13
Exclusion Zone Functionality Validation (II) IPDU_INV Current [A] 12 9 6 3 I1T02000.en I1T02008.en I1T0200C.en I1T02014.en Passive (receive only) DT Exclusion Zone Active (transmit) DT executed as passive DT Active (transmit) DT Passive (receive only) DT 0 2:26:38 2:26:54 2:27:10 2:27:26 2:31:52 2:32:08 2:32:24 2:32:40 Time of Exclusion Zone Test on DOY 269 Onboard mechanisms were triggered to disable transmission onboard within exclusion zone Slide 14
Exclusion Zone Functionality Verification (III) Exclusion Zone Functionality was successfully validated on both satellites (TDX-1 and TSX-1) First requirement for close TX-Cal Pulse for active DT formation is fulfilled TX-Cal Pulse for passive DT Slide 15
SyncWarning Performance Verification (I) SyncWarning provides a 1-Bit Information of the health of the other satellite (Bi-directional). Basic information retrieved by signal level evaluation of received radar data. (Received from sync horns. Evaluation performed onboard in real time) Disable Transmit of own SAR instrument, if other satellite is assumed as non nominal, to avoid potential illumination risk. (Failed SyncWarning) Slide 16
SyncWarning Performance Verification (II) Deviation Prediction vs. Measurement Too low SNR at Aspect Angles > 40 SyncPuls_OK Threshold Aspect angle > 40 is not reliable for SynWarn DT planning Configuration change after formation test: Use only sync horn pair constellations with angles 40 Slide 17
SyncPulse Performance Verification (I) Mean SNR of Compressed Sync Pulse [db] 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 TDX-1 Compressed SyncPulse SNR Mean - Argument of Latitude SH 2 SH 3 SH 6 SH 5 SH 2 Acquired Region SNRMEAN SNRSTD 12 10 8 6 4 2 Standard Deviation 0 0 0 30 60 90 120 150 180 210 240 270 300 330 360 Argument of Latitude Orbit dependent SNR due to change of aspect angles of SyncHorns Slide 18
SyncPulse Performance Verification (II) Mean SNR of Compressed Sync Pulse [db] 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 TSX-1 Compressed SyncPulse SNR Mean - Argument of Latitude SH 6 SH 5 SH 2 SH 3 SH 6 Acquired Region SNRMEAN SNRSTD 12 10 8 6 4 2 Standard Deviation 0 0 0 30 60 90 120 150 180 210 240 270 300 330 360 Argument of Latitude Orbit dependent SNR due to change of aspect angles of SyncHorns Slide 19
Conclusion Monostatic Commissioning Phase Result Successful verfication of requirements to include TDX-1 in TerraSAR-X Mission Outstanding performance of TanDEM-X satellite Bistatic Commissioning Phase Result Safety mechanism to avoid mutual illumination were verified successfully Sync link performance fulfills prediction Operational Phase Routine instrument performance monitoring performed Slide 20
Thank you for your attention! Ollagüe, Chile/Bolivia Slide 21