The American space agency NASA, along with the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), plans to launch the NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR) satellite in March 2025.
This mission, which is valued at ₹5,000 crore, is expected to revolutionise global Earth observation and signifies an important milestone in international cooperation in space.
Originally conceived in 2009, the NISAR satellite, weighing 2.8 tons, is engineered to observe planetary changes with exceptional precision.
It will scan almost all of Earth's land and ice surfaces twice every 12 days, capturing detailed information about ecosystems, land dynamics, and ice formations.
NISAR utilises cutting-edge Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) technology, distinguishing it from conventional imaging satellites.
Its main features include the ability to produce high-resolution images using radio signals, operating efficiently in darkness and adverse weather, detecting surface changes as minute as one inch, and penetrating thick vegetation for thorough mapping.
The satellite is equipped with dual-frequency radar—NASA’s L-band (1.25 GHz) and ISRO’s S-band (3.20 GHz)—to provide unmatched data accuracy.
NISAR will be launched on ISRO’s GSLV Mk-II rocket from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre.
It will function at an altitude of 747 km in a sun-synchronous orbit, with a mission duration planned for three years.
The observations from NISAR will have extensive applications, including examining ecosystem changes and ice dynamics, as well as monitoring geological events such as earthquakes, landslides, and volcanic activities.
This data will also assist scientists in comprehending solid Earth movements and their consequences.
The mission experienced delays due to technical issues surrounding its 12-meter radar antenna reflector.
NASA addressed these challenges by applying reflective tape to alleviate temperature-related problems.
Key components were shipped from the US to India in October 2024, representing a notable logistical accomplishment.
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