NASA-ISRO successfully launch NISAR: The world's most expensive satellite lifts off from Sriharikota

NASA-ISRO Collaborative Satellite NISAR Lifts Off (Image; ISRO)

In a milestone collaboration, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) successfully launched the NISAR (NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar) satellite on July 30 at 5.40 p.m. The lift-off took place from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, with India’s GSLV-F16 rocket carrying the satellite into a Sun-synchronous orbit 743 kilometres above Earth.

NASA-ISRO NISAR to Monitor Earth Changes Every 12 Days
NISAR marks the first joint Earth-observing satellite developed by India and the United States. Designed to orbit the planet every 12 days, the satellite will provide high-resolution, all-weather data to study dynamic changes on Earth’s surface.

The observatory will track a broad spectrum of changes, such as ground movements due to earthquakes, landslides, and volcanoes. It will also monitor long-term phenomena like forest cover change, glacier retreat, sea level rise, and changes in groundwater.

Dual-Band Radar Technology to Power Earth Observation
Both L-band and S-band synthetic aperture radars are installed in NISAR, allowing it to provide high-resolution and persistent imaging of the planet's surface over time. The two-band setup allows for accurate measurements of land deformation, wetland and forest biomass even through dense vegetation or clouds.

The satellite will also offer critical insights into ice mass changes in Greenland and Antarctica while keeping a close watch on sea ice and mountain glaciers worldwide.

In-Orbit Checkout Phase Before Full Science Operations Begin
The satellite is now in low-Earth orbit; the next 90 days will be spent by mission controllers on the In-Orbit Checkout phase. This stage is important for the testing and calibration of onboard instruments before scaled science operations start.

The success of NISAR reflects an increasing synergy between the United States and India in space science. As it embarks on its mission, the satellite is going to play an important role in worldwide climate research and natural disaster relief.