Bistatic image processing for a hybrid SAR experiment between TerraSAR-X and PAMIR

Future bi- and multistatic SAR systems could support the scientific community and the commercial market with an additional and powerful tool for imaging and exploration of interesting areas on earth. With the diversity of geometries between transmitter and receivers one can achieve for instance improvements in scene classification, extractions of particular features, and cost reduction. New experiments are necessary to investigate the advantages as well as the problems of bi- and multistatic SAR systems. This paper describes the bistatic use of the spaceborne SAR system TerraSAR-X for future spaceborne/airborne SAR exploration. TerraSAR-X will illuminate a particular scene while the receiver, the airborne SAR system PAMIR, will collect the reflected signals on board of an aircraft.