NASA and the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) are gearing up for the launch of their joint Earth-observing satellite, NISAR, scheduled for early 2024. The mission represents a significant milestone in space collaboration between the United States and India.
NISAR, which stands for NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar, will be the first satellite equipped with dual-frequency radar technology, using both L-band and S-band synthetic aperture radars. This advanced system will allow the satellite to scan nearly all of Earth’s land and ice surfaces every 12 days, providing unprecedented insights into our planet’s dynamics.
“This partnership brings together the best of both our space agencies,” said NASA Administrator Bill Nelson. “NISAR will provide critical data to help us better understand Earth’s changing systems.”
The satellite’s mission includes monitoring changes in terrestrial ecosystems, tracking the growth and melting of ice sheets, glaciers, and sea ice, and measuring subtle movements of Earth’s crust such as earthquakes and volcanic activities. The data collected by NISAR will be freely available to users worldwide, aiding in disaster response, infrastructure planning, and agricultural management.
ISRO Chairman S. Somanath highlighted the importance of the mission for global communities: “NISAR will contribute valuable information for managing natural resources and hazards, which is especially crucial for regions vulnerable to climate change.”
The upcoming launch from ISRO’s Satish Dhawan Space Centre on India’s southeastern coast underscores the growing partnership between the two nations in space exploration and scientific research.
NISAR’s data is expected to benefit a wide range of applications, from tracking deforestation and wildlife habitats to improving our understanding of natural disasters like floods and landslides. For young people in the Global South, this mission promises to offer tools and information that can help address some of the most pressing environmental challenges facing their communities.
