Bistatic Airborne SAR Acquisitions at L-Band by MetaSensing: First Results

This paper presents multiple aspects, from design to SAR Processing, related to the development and operations of two synchronized airborne bistatic L-band polarimetric SAR systems developed by MetaSensing within the framework of BelSAR, an ESA-ESTEC project. Within the framework of the future SAOCOM-CS mission currently under investigation by the European Space Agency (ESA), the two airborne bistatic sensors aim to model two satellites flying in formation, using their slightly different locations to offer a unique simultaneous three-dimensional view of what lies below. Additionally, the choice of L-band provides the capability to penetrate snow and agriculture, greatly improving estimates of glacial and biomass. In this article, we present the initial results from the test flights executed in mono- and bistatic modes. The validation campaign will continue during 2018 by measuring agriculture and crop growth as part of the BelSAR project. While previous airborne campaigns have focused on X-band measurements, to the authors' knowledge, the results presented in this paper are the first results of an airborne bistatic L-band campaign.