Shuttle Imaging Radar C and X-band Synthetic Aperture Radar mission（SIR-C/X-SAR） is an international cooperation program in radar for Earth observation There are 13 countries including China participated in this program SIR-C/X-SAR has three bands-L

C

X

polarimetry and interferometry imaging capability

the L and C band have polarization mode of HH

HV

VH

VV

and X band is only with VV polarization mode This paper introduces the China SIR-C/X-SAR program

its progress and achievements since its begining at six years ago While the shuttle flow over China

the Chinese scientists carried out the real time experiments including the spaceborne-airborne-ground data collection and sand layer penetration experiment Volcanos up to 5600m at sea level is discovered by SIR-C/X-SAR in Kunlun Mountains The lithological and structural features underneath vegetation cover is detected A segment of Great Wall in a desert region of the Ming and Sui dynasty has been identified

even part of the wall buried by Sand The prelimenary results of oceangraphy and urban study is also introduced and theinterferometry technology for generating DEM is presented