NISAR satellite launched, to monitor Earth’s surface like never before: All you need to know

NISAR, or the NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar, is a collaborative Earth observation satellite mission between NASA (United States) and ISRO. The satellite is designed to monitor changes in Earth's surface and atmosphere using powerful radar technology that can penetrate through clouds, fog, smoke, dense vegetation, and even ice.

A powerful eye in the sky

NISAR is engineered to detect subtle changes in ecosystems, climate, and natural hazards. It will help scientists track phenomena such as earthquakes, volcanic activity, landslides, and the movement of land ice sheets. The satellite will also monitor soil moisture, wetlands, and vegetation, vital data for disaster management and agricultural planning.

The first 90 days after launch would be dedicated to commissioning or performing In-Orbit Checkout, the objective of which is to prepare the observatory for science operations, ISRO said.

World’s most advanced Earth imaging satellite

Weighing around three tonnes and built at a cost of $1.5 billion, NISAR is considered the world’s most advanced and expensive civilian Earth observation satellite. It can capture high-resolution images of Earth’s surface in all weather conditions, day or night, and will map the entire globe and its ice cover every 12 days.

Unmatched data capability

NISAR is expected to produce nearly 80 terabytes of data per day. According to NASA, the imagery will be both detailed enough to capture local changes and broad enough to assess regional trends. This will allow scientists worldwide to access crucial data for environmental monitoring and policy planning.

Dual radar technology: L-band and S-band

One of NISAR’s unique features is its dual radar system. It uses:

L-band radar (from NASA) to observe dense forests, soil, and subsurface features.
S-band radar (from ISRO) to detect surface-level changes such as plant growth and variations in water levels.
This dual-band approach allows for a comprehensive view of changes both above and below the surface.

Historic NASA-ISRO collaboration

This marks the first time NASA and ISRO have jointly developed an Earth observation satellite. The mission symbolises growing cooperation between the two space agencies in addressing global environmental and climate challenges. The life of the NISAR Mission is 5 years, ISRO said.