Subject: [SLR-Mail] No.2186: TerraSAR-X/TanDEM-X Satellite Swap
From: Rolf Koenig <rolf.koenig@gfz-potsdam.de>

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SLR Electronic Mail          2013-08-02 09:11:50 UTC           Message No.  2186
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Author: Rolf Koenig

The close formation of TerraSAR-X and TanDEM-X will be abandoned for two 
days in order to allow maneuvering to a mirrored helix configuration 
(that means the twins change position at the poles from up to down and 
at the equator from left to right). During the formation swap, TSX will 
not change the orbit. However, starting on Aug. 6 at about 8:30 UTC TDX 
will depart from TSX. At 10 km distance (about 7:30 UTC on Aug. 8) the 
formation swap is performed and TDX drifts back to TSX. TDX will be back 
in the close formation with TSX on Aug. 8 at about 15:00 UTC. The orbit 
prediction service during this time will resume as usual, we do not 
expect any problems on that.

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Dr. Rolf Koenig

Dep. 1: Geodesy and Remote Sensing
Phone: +49 (0)8153/28-1353
FAX: +49 (0)8153/28-1735
Email: rolf.koenig@gfz-potsdam.de
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Helmholtz Centre Potsdam
GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences
c/o DLR Oberpfaffenhofen, 82234 Wessling
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