ECOSAR: P-band digital beamforming polarimetric and single pass interferometric SAR

Abstract

Abstract-EcoSAR is a state-of-the-art beamforming synthetic aperture radar (SAR) recently developed at the NASA/ Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) for the measurement of ecosystem structure and biomass. The airborne instrument operates at a center frequency of 435 MHz (P-band), and uses a multi-channel reconfigurable architecture to implement fully polarimetric and "single pass" interferometric measurements. The instrument architecture allows for the real-time configuration radar parameters, including center frequency, resolution, incidence angle, and number of beams, among others. The system is also designed to operate in standard or ping pong interferometric modes, and in full, orthogonal, or hybrid polarimteric modes. The instrument development was recently completed, and its first flight campaign successfully conducted in March 2014 over areas of Bahamas and Costa Rica .

Adaptive Antenna Pattern Notching of Interference in Synthetic Aperture Radar Data Using Digital Beamforming

“…EcoSAR is an airborne DBF SAR instrument developed at the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center [21,[51][52][53]. It was funded through the 2010 ESTO Instrument Incubator Program with the goal to measure forest structure, biomass, ice sheets and dry soils.…”

“…New, advanced SAR systems, such as NASA EcoSAR [21], NASA DBSAR [22] and DLR Tandem-L [23], incorporate a multichannel architecture that opens up new opportunities for filtering RFI. The individual recording of multiple subelements of an antenna array allows for digital beamforming (DBF) [24], a technique that is used to synthesize antenna patterns post-data acquisition [25].…”

Beamforming P-band synthetic aperture radar for planetary applications

“…Some of other advanced programmable features include single, dual, or full polarimetry; multi-look angle data collection; selectable resolution and swath width; digital beam steering (no moving parts); and beam pattern control; among others. This radar design is based on the successful P-band EcoSAR and L-band DBSAR airborne radars that were developed at the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center [6], [7]. Table 1 lists some of SESAR's main characteristics.…”

Next generation P-band planetary synthetic aperture radar

“…Some of its advanced programmable features include single, dual, or full polarimetry; multi-look angle data collection; simultaneous left and right of the track imaging; selectable resolution and swath width; digital beam steering (no moving parts); and beam pattern control; among others. This radar design is based off the successful the Pband EcoSAR and the L-band DBSAR airborne radars that were developed at the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center [5], [6]. Table 1 lists some of SESAR's main characteristics.…”