A remarkable satellite, designed to enhance global disaster preparedness and climate monitoring, is set to launch soon from India. The mission, a collaboration between the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and NASA, centers around the NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (Nisar), which is heralded as the most sophisticated radar system developed to date.
Scheduled to lift off at 17:40 IST (12:10 GMT) from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in south India, the 2,392 kg satellite is designed to keep an eagle eye on Earth. Nisar aims to detect minute changes in land, water, and ice sheets, providing invaluable data to both nations and the globe.
This pioneering satellite will be the first to utilize dual radar frequencies — NASA’s L-band and ISRO’s S-band. Nisar will operate in a "sun-synchronous polar orbit," allowing repeated observations of the same geographic areas every 12 days, effectively capturing changes as small as centimeters. Former NASA scientist Mila Mitra shared insights on the mission, emphasizing its potential to gather extensive data beneficial for disaster preparedness and monitoring climate change.
Natural and anthropogenic alterations to the Earth's surface can significantly influence ecosystems and human activities. "Some changes are gradual, some sudden, and others subtle," remarked Karen St Germain, NASA’s Director of Earth Sciences. Nisar will provide critical data related to natural disasters such as earthquakes, landslides, and volcanic activity, along with monitoring human-induced land changes like urban development and agriculture.
Designed over a decade, the $1.5 billion project exemplifies international cooperation within the scientific community, particularly during challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, according to St Germain. ISRO chairman V Narayanan expressed pride in the mission, underscoring it as a testament to India’s growing prominence in the field of space exploration.
Indian Science Minister Jitendra Singh called the launch a pivotal moment in India-US space collaboration, stating, “Nisar is not merely a satellite; it represents India’s scientific handshake with the world.” The upcoming launch comes on the heels of other significant milestones in India’s space agenda, including sending an astronaut to the ISS just weeks ago and historic lunar achievements. With plans for future missions including human space travel and a functional space station, India's quest in outer space continues to ascend.
