SAR Processing System Precision Processor (SPS PP) is one of the computer programs used in the Alaska SAR Facility (ASF) [where "SAR" means "synthetic-aperture radar"] to generate image data products. SPS PP ingests data that have been received from the RADARSAT (a Canadian Earth-observation satellite) and decoded into engineering and SAR signal data files, and processes these data into image data products that typically cover areas of about 100 km by 100 km. SPS PP can handle data from RADARSAT standard right- and left-looking beams, and is being enhanced to handle European Remote Sensing Satellite (ERS) and Japanese Earth Resources Satellite (JERS) data. The output of SPS PP conforms to the standards of the Committee on Earth Observing Satellites (CEOS). The left-looking products feature 16-bit detected pixels in slant-range format; the right-looking products can be in either ground-range detected or slant-range complex format. SPS PP resides on five IBM SP-2 computers with 8 processing nodes each. Each computer can produce a 100-by-100-km image frame in about 25 minutes.
This program was written by Homayan Alaei, Michael Jin, Quyen Nguyen, and Shelby Yang of Caltech for NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory. For further information, access the Technical Support Package (TSP) free on-line at www.nasatech.com/tsp under the Software category.
This software is available for commercial licensing. Please contact Don Hart of the California Institute of Technology at (818) 393-3425. Refer to NPO-20710.
This Brief includes a Technical Support Package (TSP).
Software for Generating 100-by100-km Images from SAR Data
(reference NPO-20710) is currently available for download from the TSP library.
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Overview
The document outlines the capabilities and functionalities of the Synthetic Aperture Radar Processing System Precision Processor (SPS PP), a software program developed for the Alaska SAR Facility (ASF) by a team from Caltech for NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory. The SPS PP is designed to process data from the RADARSAT satellite, a Canadian Earth-observation satellite, converting raw SAR signal data into image data products.
The SPS PP can handle both right- and left-looking standard beam modes of RADARSAT, producing image data that typically covers areas of approximately 100 km by 100 km. The software is capable of generating various level 1 image data products that conform to the standards set by the Committee on Earth Observing Satellites (CEOS). The left-looking products are presented in 16-bit detected pixels in slant-range format, while the right-looking products can be output in either ground-range detected or slant-range complex format.
The processing system operates on five IBM SP-2 computers, each equipped with eight processing nodes. This setup allows the system to produce a 100-by-100-km image frame in about 25 minutes, achieving an effective operational throughput of 1/20th real time for continuous mode data. The software is designed to be extensible, with ongoing enhancements to process data from other satellites, including the European Remote Sensing Satellite (ERS) and the Japanese Earth Resources Satellite (JERS).
The document also highlights the ASF's role as one of NASA’s Data Acquisition and Archive Centers (DAAC), providing downlink support, raw data archiving, SAR data processing, and distribution of scientific data for various international polar-orbiting remote sensing satellites. The Precision Processor is currently being modified to handle additional data types from RADARSAT and other satellites.
For commercial interests, the software is available for licensing, and inquiries can be directed to Don Hart at Caltech. The document emphasizes that the information provided does not imply any endorsement by the U.S. Government or NASA and includes a disclaimer regarding the accuracy and completeness of the information.
Overall, the document serves as a technical overview of the SPS PP, its operational capabilities, and its significance in the field of Earth observation and remote sensing.
