Since early 2007 the TerraSAR-X Mission provides X-Band data and services on an operational basis. Recent improvements and evolutions of the program comprise the introduction of new SAR imaging modes and the upcoming constellation with the Spanish PAZ satellite. The next major milestone in the German X-Band SAR roadmap will be the TerraSAR-X Next Generation (TerraSAR-X NG) Mission. The Mission is designed to guarantee the TerraSAR-X data and service continuity for commercial and public users beyond the year 2025 taking benefit of a 9.5 years satellite lifetime [1]. The TerraSAR-X NG Mission and potential extensions will be subject to a partnership model, WorldSAR, in which partners can participate through co-investment, subscription, and ownership of additional satellites operated in constellation.

The TerraSAR-X Next Generation (TerraSAR-X NG) mission is intended to take the TerraSAR-X data and service continuity well beyond 2025 taking benefit of a 9.5 years satellite lifetime [1]. The Space Segment, initially a single spacecraft, will be launched into the TerraSAR-X reference orbit while first generation TerraSAR-X systems will still be operational. The TerraSAR-X NG Mission will benefit from an advanced SAR sensor technology allowing a spatial resolution down to 0.25 meter depending on allowable chirp bandwidth in the future. Besides advanced Very High Resolution Modes TerraSAR-X NG will provide heritage modes enabling TerraSAR-X data continuity and improved wide swath modes to support large area applications. In addition the TerraSAR-X NG Mission will feature full polarimetry and improved near real time capabilities. The TerraSAR-X NG Mission and potential extensions will be subject to a partnership model, “WorldSAR”, in which partners can participate through co-investment, subscription, and ownership of additional satellites operated in constellation.

In order to monitor and improve environmental conditions, the cardinal needs of planners and decision makers on available, reliable and affordable information delivered in time on environmental pressure and stress need to be served. The ESA GMES Service Element "SAGE" lead by Infoterra GmbH addresses European environmental policies such as the European Water Framework Directive (WFD) with the "AquaSAGE" and the Soil Thematic Strategy (STS) with the "SoilSAGE" service development. The service portfolio integrates Earth Observation based Land Cover / Land Use (LULC) information - a so-called "core ser- vice" - together with in-situ and other geo-information into quantitative models. It will allow more frequent large-area updates focussed on land cover classes being key model parame- ters than current comparable approaches (e.g. CORINE Land Cover) plus short-term hot spot monitoring at affordable costs. 1 User Needs Stakeholders in the domain of environmental monitoring and reporting and spatial planning at all administrative levels require timely available, reliable and affordable information related to land cover and land use and its integration with in-situ and other geo-information in higher level information products and quantitative models. The ESA GMES Service Element "SAGE" led by Infoterra GmbH addresses European environmental policies such as the European Water Framework Directive (WFD) with the "AquaSAGE", and the Soil Thematic Strategy (STS) with the "SoilSAGE" service development. The implementation of the WFD and STS is a major challenge to most legal bodies in charge: The European Commission (EC) will soon request these organisations to deliver spatially disaggregated information on water and soil conditions at national, regional, and local scales in a standardized format. Authorities will thus have to adapt their proven reporting mechanisms to meet these re- quirements. All SAGE products have been developed by experienced EO based service providers in several European countries, representing different ecozones. In developing the information products, the service providers have been closely cooperating with various na- tional and regional authorities such as national environmental agencies, regional administra- tions and regional agencies involved in water and soil matters.