FGAN radar image of Envisat in orbit

Envisat is in orbit at an altitude of 800 km - much too far for any astronaut to ever come visiting. But to glimpse what Europe's environmental satellite looks like in space, the German Research Establishment for Applied Science FGAN has used its Tracking and Imaging Radar (TIRA). It consists of a 34-metre parabolic antenna system with a narrowband L-band tracking radar and wideband Ku-band imaging radar providing high target resolution. The TIRA system is also used to image meteoroids and space debris.