On July 30, the NISAR satellite was successfully launched by NASA and ISRO, signifying a giant leap in Earth observation.
NISAR stands for NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar and has been launched with fully non-imaging dual-frequency radar systems by both space agencies: the L-band constructed by NASA and the S-band built by ISRO. These systems view details highly finely; in short, they are totally weather-proof and time-independent satellites.
Here is NISAR, one of the most advanced Earth monitoring satellites ever made, with stunning capability to see through clouds and darkness. It happens to be the first satellite mission in which hardware is developed jointly by NASA and ISRO and then launched together.
The NISAR satellite was launched on Wednesday at 5:40 p.m. IST (8:10 a.m. EDT) aboard ISRO’s Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV) F-16 rocket. Around 20 minutes post-launch, at approximately 8:29 a.m. EDT, ISRO ground teams established contact with the satellite and confirmed that it was functioning normally.
NASA supplied the L-band radar, the high-rate communication subsystem, and the satellite payload data system, while ISRO provided the S-band radar, the satellite bus, and the launch vehicle.
As the expenditure for the mission is indeed around $1.5 billion, it is considered to be one of the most costly missions for Earth-observing satellites.
Why NISAR is necessary
The primary purpose of this satellite is to monitor changes across the Earth’s surface without peer. It will:
• Monitor the melt rates of polar ice caps and glaciers and inform about climate change.
• Explore earthquakes, volcanoes, and landslides so that scientists can better understand the land deformation and are prepared for natural calamities.
• Support agriculture and forest management in drought and deforestation-prone areas.
• Sustainable urban development through monitoring urban spread and land use in cities.
NISAR will travel around the Earth 14 times per day, covering the entire globe once every 12 days. All data collected will be made available and accessible to scientists, researchers, and policymakers around the world.
ISRO Chairman S. Somanath described the launch as “a historic milestone in international space cooperation,” while also remarking that “the successful launch of NISAR reflects the growing strength of India in space science and in addressing global environmental challenges.”
Celebrating the launch, NASA Administrator Sean Duffy said, “NISAR will deliver science that improves lives. It’s a model for international collaboration, using space technology to understand our changing planet.”
Engineers will now perform a series of checks to ensure the proper functioning of the satellite systems. After the systems have gone through these checks, NISAR will begin its real-time transmission of high-resolution data, which will be made open to public access for research and development activities.
In this way, NISAR became an epitome of success in demonstrating how much nations can achieve when united. In this joint satellite mission between both countries sits a glimmer of hope as Earth faces growing environmental and climatic complexities.
