NASA-ISRO’s NISAR satellite launched for advanced Earth observation

The GSLV-F16 rocket successfully launched the NASA-ISRO collaborative NISAR satellite from Sriharikota’s Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Andhra Pradesh. The satellite will use two different frequencies (NASA’s L-band and ISRO’s S-band), which will allow it to scan the entire Earth in 12 days while capturing subtle and accurate images of the planet in all conditions

New Delhi: NASA and ISRO successfully launched the NISAR (NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar) satellite on Wednesday for advanced Earth observation. ISRO's GSLV-F16 rocket lifted off at 5:40 PM from Sriharikota's Satish Dhawan Space Centre, deploying the satellite into a sun-synchronous polar orbit to monitor global environmental changes.

Features of NISAR: The world's first dual-frequency radar satellite

NISAR is the first satellite in the world that will use two different radar frequencies (NASA's L-band and ISRO's S-band). This technology can also capture the subtle movements of the Earth's surface and below it. Be it clouds, dark night, or dense forest, NISAR can take accurate pictures of the Earth in every situation. This satellite will scan the entire earth every 12 days and can track activities up to 4 millimeters, which will be helpful in predicting natural disasters like earthquakes, volcanoes, and landslides.

Why is NISAR important for India?

Help in disaster management

This satellite will give advance warning of disasters like floods, earthquakes, and tsunamis.

It will prove effective in preventing tragedies like the 2001 Gujarat earthquake and the 2004 tsunami.

Agriculture and water resource management

It will measure soil moisture and give farmers accurate information about irrigation.

It will track land subsidence (like in Delhi-NCR) caused by excessive exploitation of groundwater.

Eye on climate change

It will measure the speed of melting of Himalayan glaciers, which will help in estimating the water level of rivers.

An example of global partnership

NISAR is the result of a 10-year partnership between India and the US. ISRO has provided the satellite bus and S-band radar, while NASA has provided the L-band radar and a 12-meter antenna. This mission establishes India's space technology on the global stage.