The NASA/NGA Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM) collected interferometric radar data to generate a near-global topography data product for latitudes smaller than 60 degrees. The mission aimed to produce a globally consistent dataset with quantified errors. To validate this data, an extensive ground campaign was conducted by NGA and NASA to collect ground truth data. This paper documents the results of this validation effort, summarizing the error characteristics of the SRTM data. The SRTM data was validated using kinematic GPS data and other ground truth data sources. The results show that the SRTM data meets and exceeds the 16 m (90 percent) performance goal, often by a factor of two. The error characteristics of the SRTM data include both random and long wavelength errors. Random errors are due to measurement noise and have a short correlation length, while long wavelength errors are due to residual errors in the estimation of the SRTM mast vector and small secular variations of the system phase. The SRTM data was validated using a variety of data sources, including kinematic GPS data, DTED Level 2 data, and height patches. The results show that the SRTM data has a high level of accuracy, with the majority of errors being less than 5 m. The random error is primarily due to measurement noise and has a short correlation length, while the long wavelength error is due to residual errors in the estimation of the SRTM mast vector and small secular variations of the system phase. The SRTM data was also validated using geolocation data, which showed that the geolocation errors are small, typically less than two meters. The results of the validation show that the SRTM data has a high level of accuracy and is consistent with other data sources. The SRTM data is a valuable resource for understanding the topography of the Earth and has been used in a variety of applications, including environmental monitoring and disaster response.The NASA/NGA Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM) collected interferometric radar data to generate a near-global topography data product for latitudes smaller than 60 degrees. The mission aimed to produce a globally consistent dataset with quantified errors. To validate this data, an extensive ground campaign was conducted by NGA and NASA to collect ground truth data. This paper documents the results of this validation effort, summarizing the error characteristics of the SRTM data. The SRTM data was validated using kinematic GPS data and other ground truth data sources. The results show that the SRTM data meets and exceeds the 16 m (90 percent) performance goal, often by a factor of two. The error characteristics of the SRTM data include both random and long wavelength errors. Random errors are due to measurement noise and have a short correlation length, while long wavelength errors are due to residual errors in the estimation of the SRTM mast vector and small secular variations of the system phase. The SRTM data was validated using a variety of data sources, including kinematic GPS data, DTED Level 2 data, and height patches. The results show that the SRTM data has a high level of accuracy, with the majority of errors being less than 5 m. The random error is primarily due to measurement noise and has a short correlation length, while the long wavelength error is due to residual errors in the estimation of the SRTM mast vector and small secular variations of the system phase. The SRTM data was also validated using geolocation data, which showed that the geolocation errors are small, typically less than two meters. The results of the validation show that the SRTM data has a high level of accuracy and is consistent with other data sources. The SRTM data is a valuable resource for understanding the topography of the Earth and has been used in a variety of applications, including environmental monitoring and disaster response.