ISRO-NASA collaboration: NISAR to guard the planet

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Setting aside the goal of serving any single nation, the world’s first satellite dedicated to monitoring every inch of the globe — NISAR — is set to launch from Sriharikota on July 30th. Built over a span of ten years at a cost of Rs 13,000 crore, it is a joint project of the American space agency NASA and ISRO. It is the most expensive Earth-observation satellite ever developed, and a testament to ISRO’s technological prowess.

The name NISAR stands for NASA–ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar.

The launch is scheduled for 5:40 PM on the 30th, aboard the GSLV-F16 rocket. The satellite is launched into an orbit where it reaches the same location at the same time every day.

Complete global observation in 12 days

1. Every twelve days, the satellite will complete a full scan of the Earth’s surface. Using advanced Sweep SAR (Synthetic Aperture Radar) technology, it will map and monitor global changes. The satellite is equipped with dual-frequency transponders — NASA’s L-band and ISRO’s S-band — for detailed observation.
2. It can deliver highly precise data in all weather conditions, day or night. It will capture even minute changes on the Earth’s surface, including glacier retreat, sea-ice movement, soil moisture variations, surface water mapping, cyclone tracking, vegetation and forest changes, seismic and volcanic activities, climate change indicators, and natural disasters.

Weight: 2,392 kg

Orbit altitude: 734 km

Existing Earth observation satellites: 1,167 (all serving individual national needs)