World's most expensive satellite NISAR: How NASA-ISRO joint mission will open unique window into Earth's secrets

An equal collaboration between NASA and the Indian Space Research Organisation, NISAR will offer unprecedented insights into Earth’s constantly changing land and ice surfaces using synthetic aperture radar technology. The spacecraft, depicted here in an artist’s concept, will launch from India. (Image: NASA)

A new mission by NASA and ISRO, NISAR, will soon revolutionise how we observe Earth. This innovative satellite will measure land shifts caused by earthquakes, volcanoes, and landslides. Set for launch in a few months, the NISAR mission promises to unveil valuable data for scientific research and disaster management.

Tracking Earth’s Constant Change
The NISAR satellite will provide crucial insights into Earth's surface. By observing land deformation weekly, it captures changes on Earth’s surface down to the centimetre. It will also track glaciers, ice sheets, and forests, offering vital information on the global carbon cycle.

NISAR’s unique dual-band radar system sets it apart. The satellite carries both L-band and S-band radars. These wavelengths will allow researchers to study smaller and larger Earth features. The L-band radar sees larger objects, like boulders, while the S-band focuses on smaller ones, such as leaves.

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Harnessing Decades of Progress
Though the technology may seem new, the concept dates back to the 1970s. NASA’s Seasat mission introduced spaceborne synthetic aperture radar. This paved the way for later missions, influencing Earth observation for decades.

NASA plans to make the mission’s data publicly available. The data will be stored in the cloud for easy access. It will help users monitor ecosystems, water resources, and soil moisture, in addition to supporting scientific research.

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A Global Collaboration
NISAR is the result of a partnership between NASA and ISRO. The collaboration spans 14,500 km and involves hardware development on two continents. ISRO will provide the S-band radar and spacecraft bus, while NASA is responsible for the L-band radar and various communication systems.

With the NISAR mission, Earth’s ever-changing surface will be observed in unprecedented detail. As the mission unfolds, its data will help scientists across the world understand Earth’s dynamic systems and prepare for future challenges.