3-D Satellite Mission Takes Flight: Big Pics
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June 28, 2010 -- Just a week after its launch, the new radar satellite TanDEM-X has returned its first images of Earth. Above, a dammed portion of the river Donez and surroundings shows how a radar eye views the world. The reservoir appears dark while surrounding farmlands show up in a variety of colors, showing how the instrument can be used to distinguish different types of crops and vegetation.
To the east of the reservoir, the bright white streak shows a train in motion (below). Measuring the length of the bright line against the train tracks allows observers to calculate the train's speed from space.
TanDEM-X is scheduled to meet up in orbit with its larger "twin" satellite TerraSAR-X and fly in a tight helix around it. As the two image the same section of Earth from slightly different angles, they will produce the first high-resolution 3-D pictures of the planet's surface. The first such images are expected in January.
New maps generated this way will allow military jets to fly extremely low to the ground. Images will also be useful to disaster response, allowing workers to quickly determine which part of a region has been hit hardest by an earthquake or flood.
Below, TanDEM-X glimpses northern Madagascar. The larger swell of the Indian Ocean scatters radar waves and shows up yellow, whereas the calm surface of the Baie de Diego reflects more evenly and appears gray.
Images: Infoterra GmbH
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