SIR-B coverage

The planned coverage with the Shuttle Imaging Radar-B (SIR-B) is described in detail. A total of about 60-million square km of coverage will be acquired including 50 h of Tracking and Data Relay Satellite (TDRS) data and 8 h of optically recorded data. In general, data will be acquired directly through TDRS whenever possible; however, because of certain constraints imposed by having just one TDRS in orbit during the time of this mission, many digitally taped data takes will be required. (Each separate SIR-B observation is designed as a data take). Optical data takes will be taken only over sites that cannot be acquired either directly through TDRS or on a digital tape. It is important to note that, although a digital data take may be acquired at any time during the mission, it will be necessary to dump that data take through TDRS at some later time, or replace the tape onboard the Shuttle with another blank tape.