This paper introduces the concept of a fractionated MirrorSAR which is based on a set of mutually separated transmitter and receiver satellites. As opposed to previously published bi- and multistatic SAR systems, the receiver satellites are considerably simplified, as their main functionality is reduced to a kind of microwave mirror (or space transponder) which routes the radar echoes towards the transmitter. The forwarded radar signals are then coherently demodulated within the transmitter by using the same oscillator that had been used for radar pulse generation. This avoids the necessity of a bidirectional phase synchronization link as currently employed in TanDEM-X. Since the needs for fully equipped radar receivers, on-board memory and downlink are also overcome, the weight and costs of the receiver satellites can be significantly reduced. This allows for a scaling of their number without cost explosion, thereby paving the way for novel applications like multi-baseline SAR interferometry and single-pass tomography. Several additional opportunities make the MirrorSAR concept even more attractive. First, the separation of the transmitter and receiver front-ends reduces not only RF losses by avoiding switches and circulators, but it may also lower the peak power in the transmitter satellite by employing a frequency-modulated continuous wave (FMCW) illumination. This simplifies the design of the high-power amplifier and increases its efficiency. Second, the opportunity for continuous radar data collection enables new modes for the imaging of ultra-wide swaths with very high resolution, thereby overcoming an inherent limitation of conventional monostatic SAR systems. Third, the joint availability of all receiver signals in a centralized node offers new opportunities for efficient data compression, as the multistatic radar signals from close satellite formations are characterized by a high degree of mutual redundancy. Fourth, the use of a sufficiently separated transmitter satellite can avoid the risk for mutual illumination, which challenges the design and operation of fully-active multistatic SAR systems. Further advantages arise from the scalability and reconfigurability, which support new redundancy concepts and pave at the same time the way to new modes like MIMO-SAR tomography.

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This paper proposes the wrapped staring spotlight (WSS) SAR imaging mode, which is a new method to extend the azimuth steering capability for phased array SAR to achieve either an improved azimuth geometric or radiometric resolution. It investigates the utility of steering directions with main lobe gains that are smaller than that of the grating lobes and exposes how these directions can be exploited. Furthermore, two methods are proposed to reduce the speckle and the image noise at once, i.e., the Look-Normalized Pattern Correction and the Ω-weighting. Based on two example TerraSAR-X WSS acquisitions, the image performance of extended and point targets is discussed.

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The paper reports about a basic analysis of a distributed SAR system realized by several small satellites. The potential for Pulse Repetition Frequency (PRF) reduction and the corresponding swath width extension is discussed. It is derived how to maintain a gap-free phase center (PC) sequence while increasing the inter-satellite distance. The paper presents different kinds of configurations. The one that solves the problem combines alternating transmit (tx) and dispersed receive (rx) satellites. An example configuration suitable for ship monitoring is established. It serves to illustrate the problem statement and its solving.

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The paper proposes wrapped staring spotlight SAR, a method to extend the azimuth steering capability for phased array SAR systems. Based on two TerraSAR-X (TSX) wrapped staring spotlight example acquisitions, the image performance of point and extended and targets is discussed. In the provided examples, the steering is extended until the gain of the grating lobes becomes much stronger than the gain into steering direction. By this, it becomes possible to improve the azimuth resolution by a factor of two when compared to that of the starring spotlight mode implemented in the operational TSX processing chain.

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This paper discusses observations of the ocean surface using a combination of along-track SAR interferometry and the recently proposed Bidirectional SAR acquisition mode. The paper discusses the expected performance, and shows first experimental results with TanDEM-X acquisitions.

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This paper introduces the bidirectional synthetic aperture radar (BiDi SAR) imaging mode, i.e., the simultaneous imaging of two directions by one antenna into one receiving channel, and presents short-term time series of images and interferograms acquired by the TerraSAR-X and TanDEM-X satellites. A comparison to alternative approaches for the acquisition of short-term time series is provided. The BiDi acquisition geometry is defined, and a TerraSAR-X BiDi antenna pattern is analyzed. BiDi raw data are simulated, sampled with different pulse repetition frequency values, and compared with real BiDi raw data. The spectral separation of simultaneously acquired forward-and backward-looking images is explained. This paper presents the image results of BiDi acquisitions with TerraSAR-X and TanDEM-X satellites flying with 20-km along-track separation. This pursuit configuration allowed for the acquisition of up to six short-term repeated images and up to three interferograms in a single pass. An overview of potential applications for the new BiDi SAR imaging mode concludes this paper.

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This paper presents an initial analysis of the possibilities for velocity and acceleration measurement with the Bi-Directional SAR imaging mode (BiDi). It comprises single satellite single path acquisitions as well as a constellation of two satellites. The translational velocity components into azimuth and range directions are simulated. A BiDi approach for measuring the azimuth velocity from one satellite with one receiving channel is proposed. Image examples acquired with the TerraSAR-X (TSX) and TanDEM-X (TDX) satellites show velocity and acceleration effects on ships and the proposed BiDi velocity approach is verified. Interferometric fringes were observed on anchoring ships. A first approach into the understanding of rotational effects was achieved by simulation of rotational fringes.@en