The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is set to launch the NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR) satellite aboard the GSLV-F16 rocket from Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh, marking a historic collaboration between ISRO and NASA.
This groundbreaking mission, formalized in a 2014 agreement, is the first joint Earth-observing satellite project between the two space agencies, combining NASA’s L-band radar and high-rate communication systems with ISRO’s S-band radar, spacecraft bus, and GSLV-F16 launch vehicle. NISAR, the 102nd mission from Sriharikota, will operate in a Sun-synchronous Polar Orbit, a first for ISRO’s Earth observation satellites.
NISAR’s dual L-band and S-band radar system is the most advanced ever launched, capable of measuring Earth’s surface changes with sub-centimeter precision. It will provide 3D views of land and ice, continuously monitoring earthquake- and landslide-prone regions, tracking glacier and ice sheet dynamics, and mapping Greenland and Antarctica’s ice sheets.
The satellite will also measure woody biomass, monitor crop extents, and assess wetland changes, generating more daily data than any previous Earth observation mission. These insights will aid governments in managing natural and human-induced hazards, including seismicity, volcanism, and subsidence linked to aquifers and hydrocarbon reservoirs.
Following its launch, NISAR will undergo a 90-day commissioning phase to prepare for full scientific operations. The mission is poised to transform our understanding of Earth’s dynamic processes, offering critical data for disaster preparedness and environmental monitoring.
This collaboration underscores the growing partnership between NASA and ISRO, setting a new benchmark for global space exploration and Earth science.
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