NISAR Satellite's Left-Looking Radar Analyzed for Passive Bistatic Applications

The analysis focuses on the NISAR satellite's radar system, specifically highlighting its left-looking configuration, a change from earlier plans. This configuration impacts the satellite's coverage and requires specific tools for predicting illumination events. The provided scripts, written in GNU Octave and Python, allow users to calculate the radar beam's projection on the ground and predict satellite passes. The scripts are adapted from those used for the ESA's Sentinel-1A satellite, demonstrating a potential for cross-platform utilization. The analysis also addresses discrepancies in the assumed illumination angle, correcting it to 37 degrees based on official documentation. The ability to accurately predict NISAR's illumination is crucial for passive bistatic radar applications, where the satellite's signal is used to illuminate a target, and the reflected signal is then detected by a separate receiver. This technique can provide valuable information about the target's properties, such as its shape, size, and material composition. The provided scripts and analysis contribute to the development of passive radar techniques and expand the potential applications of NISAR data.

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