In a landmark collaboration between two of the world’s leading space agencies, ISRO and NASA successfully launched the NISAR (NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar) satellite today from Sriharikota. This joint mission is a significant milestone for Earth observation and environmental monitoring, as it brings together cutting-edge radar technology from both India and the United States.
Table of Contents
What is NISAR?
NISAR is one of the most advanced Earth observation satellites ever built. Weighing 2,392 kg, it is equipped with two powerful radar systems:
- NASA’s L-band radar, and
- ISRO’s S-band radar
These radars are sensitive to different surface features, providing high-resolution images of the Earth’s surface regardless of weather or time of day.
Why NISAR Launch Is Special
This mission marks the first time India’s GSLV rocket (Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle) is being used to inject a satellite into a Sun Synchronous Polar Orbit (SSPO) — an orbit usually reserved for the lighter PSLV rocket.
What makes SSPO important?
Satellites in this orbit scan the same part of the Earth at the same local time every day, allowing for consistent monitoring of changes on Earth’s surface.
What Will NISAR Do?
NISAR will orbit at 747 km altitude and complete a full scan of the Earth every 12 days, tracking even the smallest shifts — as tiny as 1 centimeter — on the Earth’s surface.
Here are the major applications:
Natural Calamities
- Landslides, floods, droughts, and wildfires: Early indicators can be tracked by monitoring soil moisture and surface water.
- Earthquakes: Mapping fault lines and detecting movements can improve earthquake forecasting and post-disaster analysis.
- Volcanic Eruptions: Monitoring magma movement to help predict eruptions.
- Permafrost changes: Crucial data to assess risks to local communities in cold regions.
Environmental Monitoring
- Changes in glaciers, sea ice, and forest cover
- Mapping agricultural fields and river systems
- Studying long-term impacts of climate change
What Happens After Launch?
- 8–10 days: Satellite deployment and antenna expansion
- 65 days: Engineering phase with calibration and testing
- Day 70: First phase of science data collection begins
- Day 90: Full-scale scientific operations commence
A Decade of Collaboration
The NISAR project reflects over 10 years of collaboration between NASA and ISRO. It’s also the first hardware-level joint mission, with both agencies developing their own radar instruments, making NISAR a true symbol of international space cooperation.
“This is a very advanced satellite that can capture even the slightest of the movements on the Earth’s surface. These observations can help in mapping changes such as volcanic hazard or landslides and prepare in advance.”
— Dr. K. Sivan, former ISRO Chairperson
Why NISAR Matters
NISAR is not designed to predict disasters directly but to observe critical changes that allow for better risk assessment, disaster planning, and climate resilience.
As climate change and natural disasters continue to challenge communities worldwide, NISAR’s real-time, high-precision data will be a game-changer for scientists, disaster managers, and policymakers alike.
The Road Ahead
With a five-year mission life, NISAR will offer a constant stream of data to global researchers, potentially reshaping how we respond to environmental changes and calamities.
As the mission progresses, the world will watch closely — not just for the scientific breakthroughs, but for the future collaborations this launch may inspire.
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