Present and future of L band SAR for small satellites

In SAR-580 experiment using L/C/X band SAR mounted on Convair 580 was conducted for the first time in Japan. Based upon these results, L band HH was selected for SAR mounted on JERS-1. Later, PALSAR (full polarimetry) mounted on ALOS was developed and launched by H-IIA rocket. In FY 2013, PALSAR-2 mounted on ALOS-2 will be launched by H-IIA rocket. In this paper, present and future of spectral and technical issues of airborne and spaceborne L band SAR including small L band SAR to be resolved are presented.