a. a sole arbitrary waveform generator configured to generate a first signal and a second signal, said first signal having a different phase from said second signal;

b. a pair of signal mixers, one said signal mixer electrically coupled to an output of said waveform generator and said other mixer electrically coupled to an output of said waveform generator;

c. a local oscillator electrically coupled to said pair of signal mixers such that said first and second signals are heterodyned with a signal from said local oscillator;

d. a pair of amplifiers configured to amplify the output from said pair of signal mixers;

e. a single orthogonal horn and antenna assembly coupled to said pair of amplifiers and configured to simultaneously propagate said amplified and heterodyned first signal in a first plane and said amplified and heterodyned second signal in a second plane angularly rotated from said first plane;

f. a second pair of mixers electrically coupled to and arranged with said orthogonal horn and antenna assembly such that said second pair of mixers receives orthogonally oriented reflectivity signals received from said horn and antenna assembly, wherein each of said second pair of mixers is electrically coupled to said local oscillator such that said second pair of mixers mixes said orthogonally oriented reflectivity signals with said local oscillator signal;

g. a pair of intermediate frequency filters each coupled to one of said second pair of mixers; and,

h. a receiver coupled to both of said intermediate frequency filters, said receiver including means for resolving the scattering matrix associated with said orthogonally oriented received reflectivity signals and wherein said resolving means is configured to produce polarimetric data from reflectivity signals having a phase of said first signal and reflectivity signals having a phase of said second signal.