Passive receive-only SAR payload for SAOCOM CS mission

SAOCOM (Satelite Argentino de Observacion Con Microondas) is a CONAE L-bandSAR mission with a constellation of two LEO spacecrafts in a Sun-synchronous dusk-dawn orbit. SAOCOM-CS is an ESA's receive-only Companion Satellite flying in formation with SAOCOM-1B, which would act as an illuminator. SAOCOM-CS will introduce a new type of SAR missions with simultaneous observations providing polarimetry, interferometric and bistatic measurement capabilities. The main application driving the mission is the mapping of biomass and structure of boreal forest by SAR tomography. In addition, several imaging geometries will be implemented during the mission lifetime for experimental applications. Other products that SAOCOM-CS will deliver are related to soil moisture information and map products supporting agricultural, hydrological applications, as well as interferometry for cartography, digital terrain models, glaciology, volcanic, seismic and subsidence prone areas and emergencies in general. Both SAOCOM-1B and SAOCOM-CS are due for launch in the late 2019. The SAOCOM-CS satellite is composed of a platform and passive SAR payload. This last is the subject of this paper.