Status of the SRTM data processing: when will the world-wide 30m DTM data be available?

DLR’s X-band interferometric SAR system onboard the Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM) has been flown successfully in February 2000 and acquired 3660 G bytes of raw data to be processed to a near global Digital Elevation Model (DEM) of the earth with an absolute height accuracy of ±16m. Before starting the operational processing deferent kinds of calibration and motion compensation activities based on the attitude and position data and recorded instrument housekeeping data have to be performed. The preliminary results achieved over ocean test areas show the absolute height error and the relative error from the radar noise within specification. The processing and archiving facility is operational and the complete data set will be processed and available to the customers till mid 2003.