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What is SRTM?
Summary Main Equipment of SRTM
SRTM coverage
Summary
SRTM (Shuttle Radar Topography Mission) is mounted on a Space Shuttle and obtains Earth surface data by remote sensing technology utilizing a synthetic aperture radar. Obtained data will be converted into height data called a Digital Elevation Model (DEM), and will be utilized to generate a more precise three-dimensional map of larger observation area of the Earth than has ever been possible.

During its 11-day flight, it will obtain data covering 80% of the Earth's surface (excluding north and south poles), and 95% of its residential area.

The high-resolution,digital,three-dimensional topographic map produced from this data will be disclosed to the general public in the hope that it will be used in various fields. Potential applications include regional weather forecasting that takes account of topography,obtaining an accurate understanding of the distribution of forests in mountains, safe navigation of aircraft,and determining line-of-sight areas in wireless communications.
  1. The third Space Radar Experiment
    SRTM is a Space Radar Lab (SRL) experiment payload promoted by NASA.
    Following the flights of STS-59 (SRL-1) and STS-68 (SRL-2) launched in 1994, STS-99 will be the third flight (SRL-3). Since SRL-3 uses an outboard antenna mounted at the end of the 60m extended mast, which was not used in SRL-1 and 2, it will obtain higher quality data, which will be utilized to generate three-dimensional images of the Earth.


  2. International Project
    SRTM is an international mission in which the organizations below participate;
    • NASA JPL
      Performs SIR-C system development, operation, and total project management.
    • German Aerospace Center (DLR)
      Performs X-SAR development, operation, and management.
    • Italian Space Agency (ASI)
      In cooperation with DLR, ASI participates in X-SAR development, operation, and management.


  3. Characteristics of SRTM
    In order to generate a three-dimensional map, it is necessary to collect data from two viewpoints. As shown in the illustration, two antennas, the main antenna mounted in the cargo bay of the Shuttle and another one mounted at the end of the 60m extended mast on the port side of the cargo bay, will be used. The observation data of these two viewpoints and a technique called interferometry will be used to generate three-dimensional images such as shown below. This is one of the features of SRTM.

    Another feature is the ability to extend the mast up to 60m on orbit. This mast was developed based on the mast that will be used to deploy solar panels of the International Space Station(ISS). However, the mast for SRTM is twice as long. This mast will be the longest structure ever deployed in space.

    While data is being collected, the antenna mounted at the end of the 60m mast must be properly positioned within several millimeters, which requires highly advanced techniques. Also, as many photographs as possible will be taken by the camera during this flight. These photographs will then be compared with radar images.

Antenna being deployed NASA/JPL/Caltec
Sample of three-dimensional image
by STS-59 and 68


Main Equipment of SRTM

As shown below, SRTM is composed of the main and outboard antennas of SIR-C/X-SAR which uses two frequency bands, Attitude & Orbit Determination Avionics (AODA; electronic equipment used to determine attitude and orbit), a mast that extends 60m from the shuttle, and a canister to store the mast, and a structure to support all the equipment.
NASA/JPL/Caltec
Main Antenna
NASA/JPL/Caltec
Outboard Antenna

Model of mast
AEC-Able Engineering Compay, inc.
Exterior of Mast (three bays)
AEC-Able Engineering Compay, inc.
Mast in fully extended state
  • Main antenna
    This is a 12 m-long,4 m-wide transmitting and receiving SIR-C/X-SAR antenna.It is mounted on the support
    structure in the shuttle cargo bay.
  • Outboard antenna
    This is a receiving-only SIR-C/X-SAR antenna and is mounted 60 m from the port side of the shuttle.
    During the launch, the outboard antenna is stored in the cargo bay of the Shuttle; it will be deployed at the end of the 60m mast before observation starts.
  • Attitude &Orbit Determination Avionics (AODA)
    In order to perform data processing for creating a high-resolution,three-dimensional topographic map,it is necessary to obtain extremely accurate information concerning errors in the position and attitude of the antenna during measurement. This information is measured using the AODA system,which consists of highly accurate sensors including a GPS receiver, equipment for measuring the distance between the main antenna and the outboard antenna,and an optical sensor that uses a light emitting diode.These devices are controlled and monitored by the crew in the shuttle,using an AODA processing computer (APC).
  • Mast
    This mast extends 60 m from the port side of the shuttle and supports the 300 kg outboard antenna at its end.
    During launch and return to Earth,the mast is folded to about 1/20th of the fully extended length.The mast
    comprises some 87 cubic bays,each of which consists of support columns made of high-strength compound material, metal wires,joints,and so on.
    This mast was developed by the US AEC-Able Engineering Company Inc.,utilizing the technology that it developed for the mast deploying the solar array wings used in the International Space Station.
    Such a long mast has never been used in space. Whether SRTM program will be successful or not will strictly depend on extending and retracting this mast.
  • AEC-Able Engineering Compay, inc.
    Canister
    Canister
    The canister houses the mast during launch and return to Earth.It is 1.4 m in diameter and 2.9 m long.The mast is
    extended and retracted by a motor installed inside the canister.
  • Payload High Rate Recorder (PHRR)and Recorder Interface Controller (RIC)
    The shuttle has six PHRRs,and two RICs that control the PHRRs on board.Three PHRRs record data during
    observation,and remaining three are in reserve.RIC is a laptop computer:One RIC is always used to control the
    PHRRs,and the other is spare.
    It will take one year to one year and half after the shuttle returns to Earth to process the extremely large amount of data (9.8 terabytes;one CD contains 650 megabytes,so this amount is equivalent to 15,000 CDs)that will be acquired.
Major specification of SIR-C/X-SAR
item SIR-C
Spaceborne Imaging Radar-C		 X-SAR
X-band Synthetic Aperture Radar
Size Main antenna 12.0m X 3.5m 12.0m X 0.5m
Outboard antenna 8.1m X 0.9m 6m X 0.4m
Frequency 5.3GHz 9.6GHz
Wavelength 5.8cm 3.1cm
Resolution Horizontal 30m 30m
Vertical 16m 16m
Altitude 233km 233km
Swath width 225km *2 50km
Polarization *1 HH,HV,VH,VV VV
Off nadir 23 - 63 degree *2 52 degree
*1 F HH (Horizontal transmit,Horizontal receive)
HV (Horizontal transmit,Vertical receive)
VH (Vertical transmit,Horizontal receive)
VV (Vertical transmit,Vertical receive)
*2 F SIR-C is designed with Scan SAR.The beam can be electronically steered.

Last Updated : September 1, 1999
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