TanDEM-X

TanDEM-X
TanDEM-X
Mission typeRadar Imaging
OperatorDLR
COSPAR ID2010-030A Edit this at Wikidata
SATCAT no.36605Edit this on Wikidata
WebsiteHome
Mission durationElapsed: 14 years, 4 months and 15 days
Spacecraft properties
ManufacturerEADS Astrium Satellites
Start of mission
Launch date21 June 2010, 02:14:00 (2010-06-21UTC02:14Z) UTC
RocketDnepr
Launch siteBaikonur 109/95
Orbital parameters
Reference systemGeocentric
RegimeLow Earth

TanDEM-X (TerraSAR-X add-on for Digital Elevation Measurement) is the name of TerraSAR-X's twin satellite, a German Earth observation satellite using SAR (Synthetic Aperture Radar) - a modern radar imaging technology. Implemented in a Public-Private-Partnership between the German Aerospace centre (DLR) and EADS Astrium (now Airbus Defence and Space), it is a second, almost identical spacecraft to TerraSAR-X (TSX). TanDEM-X (TDX) is also the name of the satellite mission flying the two satellites in a closely controlled formation with typical distances between 250 and 500 m.[1] The twin satellite constellation allowed the generation of WorldDEM global digital elevation models starting in 2014.