Processing algorithms for COSMO-SkyMed SAR sensor

The COSMO-SkyMed (Constellation of Small satellites for the Mediterranean basin Observation) constellation is a project of the Italian Space Agency (ASI) tailored for risk management, coastal zone monitoring and sea pollution in a dual use approach (military and civil applications). The COSMO-SkyMed payload is constituted of a fixed antenna with electronic scanning capabilities in both the azimuth and the elevation planes. It has been designed to implement three different operation modes in order to acquire the images at the required resolution: Spotlight mode, Stripmap mode and ScanSAR mode. This paper describes the algorithms implemented to focus images acquired in the above three different modes together with the first results obtained using simulated and real data. Telespazio, in cooperation with Consorzio Innova and Digimat, is the prime-contractor of the COSMO-SkyMed CREDO project, in which is foreseen the development of a SAR ground processing chain.