Large radar cross section (RCS) and high temporal stability are the typical requirements expressed nowadays to external calibration targets to be used for spaceborne SAR calibration. The use of ground-based large parabolic reflector antennas may be a good alternative to active radar calibrators or corner reflectors. Outstanding stability of the antennas RCS was demonstrated in a calibration series under AO3-343 in 1999-2000. Under the extension of the project in 2002 with a goal of preparation to ENVISAT mission we were able to demonstrate the repeatability of the series of observations made before as well as our ability to control polarisation of backscattered signal and to show phase stability of the backscatter, what is important for repeated orbits interferometry.

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Within the Federal Target Programme on the Development of Education in Russia strategic projects on introduction of new models for managing education and arranging educational process are being implemented in all higher educational institutions of this country. This transformation is going on in the context of large-scale use of information and telecommunication technologies, which are aimed to ensure the individual approach to education on the basis of merging educational process with technologies and also to reduce costs for the shift towards innovation development of higher educational institutions. The significant role of self-guided work, stipulated within the third generation educational standards, emphasizes top priority issues both on effective arrangement and control of students’ learning outcomes and on helping to reduce teachers’ efforts for functions to deliver knowledge to learners.