Calibration and performance analysis of the X-SAR system

Abstract In April 1994 the X-SAR was flown as part of the first SIR-C/X-SAR space radar laboratory mission on the Space Shuttle. Our institute is responsible for the calibration of all X-SAR data products. SAR calibration includes internal calibration of the sensor, measurement of the antenna pattern and determination of the absolute calibration factor. This paper includes a detailed description of the X-SAR calibration algorithms, procedures and preliminary results of the first mission.