NASA-ISRO NISAR to launch today: When and how to watch the liftoff of world’s most expensive satellite

GSLV-F16 is ready to carry NISAR into orbit. (Image: ISRO)

India and the United States are ready for lift-off. The highly awaited NISAR satellite is set to fly today. After years of planning, the countdown has finally begun.

The launch will take place at 5:40 p.m. IST. The GSLV Mk II rocket will carry NISAR into orbit. The launch site is Sriharikota’s Satish Dhawan Space Centre.

A powerful rocket and a bold mission

The rocket, GSLV Mk II, stands 52 metres tall. It features solid, liquid, and cryogenic-powered stages. This heavy-lift launcher is India’s biggest rocket to date.

NISAR, short for NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar, is ready. It will enter a 747-kilometer polar orbit in space. The satellite’s separation is planned 18 minutes post-liftoff.

This Earth-observing satellite will scan the globe regularly. It will track changes in land, ice, and water. Radar sensors can spot movement as small as a centimeter.

The launch will stream live via ISRO, NASA and Space.com. Sky-watchers can tune in to see history unfold.

Watch it live here:

What NISAR aims to do from space

NASA says NISAR will help monitor natural threats. This includes earthquakes, volcanoes, and dangerous landslides worldwide. It will also observe human activity from space.

Agriculture, water usage, and city development will be tracked. The data may help guide housing and transport planning. NISAR is built to run for at least five years.

NASA and ISRO teams say this is a major step. The mission will offer daily insights into a changing planet. Its radar system is the most advanced ever made.