SHARAD a subsurface sounding radar: architecture and technological solutions

E. Russo; E. Flamini; R. Seu; D. Adirosi; E. Zampolini

doi:10.1117/12.637561

11 October 2005 SHARAD a subsurface sounding radar: architecture and technological solutions

E. Russo, E. Flamini, R. Seu, D. Adirosi, E. Zampolini

Proceedings Volume 5980, SAR Image Analysis, Modeling, and Techniques VII; 598001 (2005) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.637561
Event: SPIE Remote Sensing, 2005, Bruges, Belgium

Abstract

SHARAD P/L (SHAllow RADar PayLoad) is a subsurface sounding radar provided by the Italian Space Agency (ASI) as a facility instrument for the NASA mission to Mars called MRO (Mars Recoinnassance Orbiter). The objective of the SHARAD is to detect the liquid water and to profile the ice layers within the first few hundreds of meters of the subsurface of Mars. Even if Mars surface is not uniformly apt for radar sounding, it will however be possible to find favourable conditions which may allow the identification from orbit of aqueous layers. SHARAD will also provide new scientific data about Martian soil, ground morphologies and overall geology. To summarize, the primary objective of the SHARAD investigation is to map, in selected sites, dielectric interfaces to depths of up to one kilometer in the Martian subsurface and to interpret these interfaces in terms of the occurrence and distribution of expected materials, including rock, regolith, water, and ice. Key elements for the radar design are represented by the identified center frequency, 20 MHz, the bandwidth of the radar pulse equal to 10 MHz, and the requested spatial resolution which should be better than 1000 m in the along track direction and 7000 m in the cross track direction. In the paper SHARAD design, its technological implications and tradeoffs are presented. In addition the architectural scheme of the instrument is described and an overview of the expected performances is given.

Citation Download Citation

E. Russo, E. Flamini, R. Seu, D. Adirosi, and E. Zampolini "SHARAD a subsurface sounding radar: architecture and technological solutions", Proc. SPIE 5980, SAR Image Analysis, Modeling, and Techniques VII, 598001 (11 October 2005); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.637561

ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE

INSTITUTIONAL
Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.

SELECT YOUR INSTITUTION

PERSONAL
Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.

PERSONAL SIGN IN

No SPIE Account? Create one

PURCHASE THIS CONTENT

SUBSCRIBE TO DIGITAL LIBRARY

50 downloads per 1-year subscription

Members: $195

Non-members: $335 ADD TO CART

25 downloads per 1 - year subscription

Members: $145

Non-members: $250 ADD TO CART

PURCHASE SINGLE ARTICLE

Includes PDF, HTML & Video, when available