Calibration of L&S Band ASAR Data Using Rosamond Corner Reflector Array Site

NASA-ISRO SAR (NISAR) is a dual-frequency SAR mission by National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) for earth observation in L and S bands. It is scheduled to launch in early 2023.To prepare the NISAR user community in advance, Space Application Centre, ISRO has developed an Airborne L&S band SAR (LS-ASAR) as a predecessor for NISAR. The platform has Dual, Quad and Hybrid Polarization mode capability in both L and S band and provides important data for various applications. This paper covers the calibration methodology and parameters derived using Corner Reflectors (CRs) deployed at the Rosamond Corner Reflector Array (RCRA) site, located near the south beach of Rosamond Dry Lake Bed, California. The derived calibration parameters for ASAR like, Signal-Clutter Ratio (SCR), Peak to Side Lobe Ratio (PSLR), Integrated Side Lobe ratio (ISLR) and Spatial Resolution from the Impulse response of CRs deployed are in close agreement with the expected values and also provide good confidence for the suitability of the designed CRs as well as on the methods used to derive the parameters. Radiometric resolution and Noise Equivalent Sigma Naught (NES0) are also derived considering from homogenous region in Rosamond area which signify radiometric capability of L and S band ASAR.