Sentinel-1 mission capabilities and SAR system calibration

The paper provides an overview of the GMES Sentinel-1 system characteristics including the SAR imaging modes and their key performance parameters as well as the specifics of related attitude and orbit control modes (i.e. roll steering mode and zero-Doppler steering mode). In addition, the Sentinel-1 SAR interferometry (InSAR) capabilities are discussed. Furthermore, the paper outlines the planned Sentinel-1 commissioning phase activities related to the in-orbit SAR system calibration and end-to-end performance verification.