TerraSAR-X and TanDEM-X are exceeding the expectations of the scientific community. Why exactly? And what comes next? During the IGARSS 2012 symposium in Munich, we were able to speak to Manfred Zink, Project Manager of the Ground Segment of the mission. He is responsible for directing the entire mission, from the close flight formation of the TerraSAR-X and TanDEM-X satellites to the creation of the digital elevation model.