SRTM

Shuttle Radar Topography Mission

past Mission

Type

Instrument

Launch

Feb. 11, 2000

Target

Earth

Objective

Obtain elevation data on a near global scale

The Shuttle Radar Topography Mission, which flew aboard NASA's space shuttle Endeavour during an 11-day mission in 2000, made the first near-global topographical map of Earth, collecting data on nearly 80% of the planet's land surfaces. The instrument was essentially a modified version of the earlier Shuttle Imaging Radar, with a second antenna added to allow for topographic mapping, using a technique similar to stereo photography.

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