SAR Imaging from Stratospheric Balloons: First Results

Stratospheric balloons have long been used for scientific studies and weather measurement. Recent advances in computer modeling and control, such as those demonstrated with Google's Project Loon, have made it possible to achieve a level of navigability with these balloons, opening up the possibility of using them as platforms for communications and remote sensing. This paper demonstrates the use of a Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) system on-board a balloon floating in the stratosphere. The challenges of operating a SAR in the stratosphere, and on a balloon platform are discussed, and an X-band configuration of the SlimSAR is used as an example of meeting these challenges successfully.