Why NASA-ISRO Satellite NISAR is so special and how it will be a game-changer in climate monitoring

NISAR Satellite (Image: NASA)

It is not just another launch from Sriharikota. It is a moment many scientists have waited years for. On Wednesday, India and the United States are set to lift off on one of the most ambitious space missions yet. The NISAR satellite, jointly built by NASA and ISRO, will launch at 5.40 p.m. from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Andhra Pradesh.

What is NISAR and how does it work?

The NISAR satellite weighs 2,392 kilograms and is packed with new tech. It carries two radar systems, NASA’s L-band and ISRO’s S-band. These help scan changes across land and water on Earth. The satellite will go into a polar orbit 747 kilometres above the planet.

It uses radar to bounce signals off the Earth’s surface. These radar waves will help measure shifts in land, forests and even under snow. NISAR will cover the globe every 12 days. Its data will show movements as small as a few millimetres.

The satellite has a 12-metre gold mesh antenna. It is one of the largest ever sent into low Earth orbit. It uses SweepSAR technology for clear images in all weather. This means scientists can track forests, soil and even crop growth with high accuracy.

Why this satellite matters to the world

The NISAR satellite is expected to help many sectors. It will support disaster response, study sea level rise and monitor earthquakes. It will also track glaciers, floods and landslides caused by climate change. It can help warn people about risks before disasters strike.

Data from the satellite will be open to everyone. Scientists and policymakers will have access within hours of each scan. According to NASA, this is a science mission that will serve the entire world.

India’s Science Minister Jitendra Singh called it a sign of friendship. He said it reflects a strong partnership between two democracies. Experts say this is one of the most detailed Earth monitoring tools ever made.

Why the India-US partnership matters now

NISAR marks a strong step in India-US space ties. It shows both countries are working together for global science. The mission took over a decade to build and cost over $1.5 billion.

Dr Paul Rosen, a NASA scientist, said it will help watch seismic zones like the Himalayas. The satellite will give vital data before and after quakes. It will also help track the path of storms and volcano activity as reported by NDTV.

This mission is more than just a tech project. It shows what two space powers can do together. For scientists across the world, NISAR may be the start of a new chapter in Earth research.