Characteristics

High degree of innovativeness (technology and methodology)

Every 8 days Tandem-L delivers an updated map of the global land masses with high resolution using novel digital-beamforming technologies.
Tandem-L exceeds the imaging performance of all existing SAR satellites by more than a factor of 10 and thus extends the lead in development for at least 7 years.
For the first time it will be possible to globally estimate the vertical structure of vegetation and ice using polarimetric SAR interferometry and tomography, which has been developed in Germany.
Tandem-L paves the way for a unique earth observation system for continuous monitoring of the earth and environment, comparable to the network of weather satellites.

It will be possible for the first time to simultaneously measure 7 essential climate parameters in the frame of one satellite mission.
Tandem-L is the worldwide first mission for systematic high-resolution monitoring of dynamic processes in the bio-, geo-, cryo- and hydrosphere, respectively.
Tandem-L will help Germany to gain the leading role in global earth system, climate and environmental research.
8 Helmholtz centers and numerous associated facilities already participate in an alliance (under the lead of the HGF) in preparation for a comprehensive and systematic utilisation of Tandem-L data.
More than 60 Research Institutes have already become members to the science team and show high interest in the utilisation of Tandem-L data.
Tandem-L yields a unique potential for the increasingly important environmental monitoring. One example is the program REDD+ for the protection of forests.