FUTURE, SYNTHETIC-APERTURE RADAR INSTRUMENT DESIGN USING INSTRUMENT MODELING SOFTWARE

The anticipated user requirements for future spaceborne synthetic aper ture radar (SAR) al e many and varied. This often lends to diverse and contradictory requirements on the instrument. A flexible multiple mod e system offering numerous SAR operating modes or techniques, coupled with multiple frequency and polarization capabilities tends to be the resulting outcome. This design process can be supported by the use of software tools such as the SAR Instrument Modelling Software (IMS). Wi th ifs heritage in the ERS-1 Active Microwave Instrumentation (AMI) SA R design and performance prediction, the latest version offers the use r easy access fo design trade-offs. This is demonstrated with examples taken from recent ESA studies into future mission scenarios.