CompassData's partner in collecting Remotely Sensed Ground Control Points (RSGCP®) is Infoterra GmbH, the German part of Astrium GEO-Information Services. Infoterra holds the exclusive commercial distribution rights for TerraSAR-X. The mission was implemented in a Public-Private-Partnership between Astrium and the German Aerospace Centre (DLR).

CompassData is an authorized dealer of the new Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) sensor technology, combined with the extremely precise on-orbit platform of the TerraSAR-X.

Although GCPs collected by terrestrial means typically offer higher accuracies, this spaceborne approach is a significant milestone in control.

This is possible through:

• A very high degree of orbital accuracy of the TerraSAR-X satellite, (residing in the centimeter range)
• Very precise radar beam tracing
• Extremely high resolution capabilities of the satellite and the resulting high geolocation accuracy of the SAR imagery (<1m in Range and Azimuth for two collection modes)

The sensor is highly suited for collecting precise and accurate 3D ground information regardless of weather or daylight conditions.

For more information about the TerraSAR-X and Infoterra GmbH (in English) visit: www.infoterra.de/

About Astrium GEO-Information Services - Infoterra GmbH
Astrium's GEO-Information Services Division is one of the leading providers of geo-information products and services for managing the development, environment and security of the changing world. A part of this Division, the German Infoterra GmbH holds the exclusive commercial exploitation rights for the German radar satellite TerraSAR-X, enabling the company to provide weather-independent, high-resolution radar data of a new quality, as well as reliable data access services.