System components of the TerraSAR-X satellite
System components of the TerraSAR-X satellite
TerraSAR-X weighs about 1.3 tonnes. The 5 m long and 2.4 m wide satellite bus features a structure with a hexagonal cross-section. One of the six sides carries the 5-metre-long and 80-cm-wide radar antenna. The electronics boxes of the SAR instrument (Synthetic Aperture Radar) and the satellite bus are also fitted on the side faces of the structure, as is the satellite's solar generator, 5.25 square metres in area, which supplies energy using gallium arsenide solar cells.
