According to the report of DPA, the system consists of five satellites and a ground station in Grafschaft. The satellites can bounce radar pulses off the earth. Then the returning signals are converted into a picture of the ground that can resolve features that are just 50 centimeters in width. Through this system, Germany will be able to take radar pictures of any location on Earth in about 10 hours, which is the the time it takes for a satellite to arrive overhead and for the picture to be compiled, said Defense officials. The SAR-Lupe system cost 350 million euros (445 million U.S. dollars) and began operation last summer and was officially handed over to the military yesterday by the builders, OHB System. Germany will share the data with France, which operates Helios II military satellites that will provide supplemental photographs for the SAR system.
Satnews Daily
December 5th, 2008
Spy Sat Time For Germany
According to the report of DPA, the system consists of five satellites and a ground station in Grafschaft. The satellites can bounce radar pulses off the earth. Then the returning signals are converted into a picture of the ground that can resolve features that are just 50 centimeters in width. Through this system, Germany will be able to take radar pictures of any location on Earth in about 10 hours, which is the the time it takes for a satellite to arrive overhead and for the picture to be compiled, said Defense officials. The SAR-Lupe system cost 350 million euros (445 million U.S. dollars) and began operation last summer and was officially handed over to the military yesterday by the builders, OHB System. Germany will share the data with France, which operates Helios II military satellites that will provide supplemental photographs for the SAR system.