Share ISRO-NASA earth-observing ‘NISAR’ satellite to lift off today from Sriharikota

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) plans to launch the NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR) satellite today at 17:40 IST from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh. This launch is an important milestone in Indo-US space collaboration, following over a decade of planning and a joint investment of more than USD 1.5 billion.

 

NISAR is a modern Earth observation satellite developed by ISRO and NASA. It will monitor land, ice, and ocean surfaces with exceptional accuracy. Weighing 2,392 kg, the satellite will orbit in a Sun Synchronous Polar Orbit, which is unusual for ISRO’s Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV), as this type of orbit is not typically used. The launch with the GSLV-F16 is the first of its kind for such a mission.

 

NISAR will complete an orbit around Earth every 97 minutes and will revisit and image the same location every 12 days. It includes a unique dual-band Synthetic Aperture Radar system that works on both L and S bands. It uses the advanced SweepSAR technique to produce high-resolution, wide-swath images across various terrains.

 

 

Union Minister for Science and Technology Dr. Jitendra Singh praised the mission as more than a satellite launch, calling it “India’s scientific handshake with the world.” He stated the launch represents a key moment in Indo-US space cooperation and highlights India’s growing role as a global leader in Earth observation technology.

 

“The satellite will help track subtle shifts in the Earth’s crust and surface movement, providing early warnings for natural disasters such as earthquakes, landslides, tsunamis, and volcanic eruptions,” said Singh. “Its uses extend beyond disaster monitoring—NISAR will also play a crucial role in studying agricultural patterns, soil moisture, ecosystem disturbances, shoreline changes, ship detection, and storm tracking.”

 

 

ISRO indicated that the first 90 days after launch will focus on In-Orbit Checkout (IOC), an important phase to test and calibrate the satellite before starting full-scale science operations. Once operational, NISAR is expected to function for at least five years.

 

Another notable aspect of the mission is its open-data policy. All information gathered by NISAR will be available to the global scientific community within one to two days of collection, and in near real-time during natural disasters or emergencies. This approach aims to significantly help developing nations by providing access to advanced Earth observation data without cost barriers.