The UrtheCast SAR-XL multi-band, multi-aperture spaceborne SAR system

UrtheCast is currently developing the SAR-XL technology for its OptiSAR™ Constellation that comprises 8 tandem pairs of SAR and Optical Satellites in two orbit planes. This paper briefly outlines the OptiSAR™ mission and then describes the SAR-XL instrument that is carried by the SAR satellite. This novel technology is the world's first dual-frequency, circular/quad polarization, multi-aperture, fully-active phased-array and digitally-beamformed (in both azimuth and elevation) space-based Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR). This instrument is highly flexible and can be used to generate many different types of beam modes enabling a large number of applications. The baseline beam modes used for the OptiSAR™ mission are described and their performance capabilities are given. Additional advanced beam modes that are possible using the SAR-XL technology are also identified. Finally, the modular nature of the instrument is also described that enables the SAR-XL to be easily configured for different antenna sizes with up to 16 apertures that can enable a totally new class of performance.