India’s upcoming launch of the NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR) satellite aboard GSLV-F16 on July 30, 2025, from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC-SHAR), Sriharikota, signifies a significant milestone in Indo-US space collaboration. This mission will revolutionize Earth observation through dual-frequency SAR technology for global scientific and humanitarian benefits.
Overview
India is all set to launch the NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR) satellite—the first collaborative Earth observation mission between ISRO and NASA on July 30, 2025, using the GSLV-F16 rocket from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC-SHAR), Sriharikota. The satellite will be placed in a Sun-synchronous orbit (SSO) at an altitude of 743 km with an inclination of 98.4°, enabling consistent observation of Earth’s surface in all weather and lighting conditions.
Background
- The NISAR mission is a result of over a decade of technical collaboration between ISRO and NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL).
- It integrates NASA’s L-band radar and ISRO’s S-band radar on a single satellite platform.
- The mission showcases the significant technological synergy between the two space agencies.
Significance
- NISAR is a landmark in international space cooperation and a major step forward for global Earth observation capabilities.
- It is the first satellite to use dual-frequency Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) for civilian use, enabling monitoring of surface changes as small as a centimeter.
- It is expected to revolutionize the understanding of climate, ecosystems, and natural disasters.
Objectives
- Provide high-resolution, all-weather, day-and-night data on Earth’s surface every 12 days.
- Help monitor natural hazards, track agricultural trends, assess disaster impacts, and study ecosystem disturbances.
- Specific scientific objectives include tracking glacier movements, ground deformations, land subsidence, and changes in vegetation and soil moisture.
Key Features
- Launch Vehicle: ISRO’s GSLV-F16
- Launch Date: July 30, 2025, at 17:40 IST
- Satellite Mass: 2392 kg
- Orbit Type: Sun-Synchronous Orbit at 743 km altitude
- Radar Bands: L-band (NASA) and S-band (ISRO)
- Swath Width: 242 km
- Technology Used: SweepSAR technique
- Revisit Time: 12-day global coverage cycle
Applications and Impact
NISAR’s data will benefit multiple sectors:
- Disaster Management: Landslides, earthquakes, and flood mapping
- Climate Research: Polar ice monitoring and storm tracking
- Agriculture: Soil moisture analysis and crop monitoring
- Urban Planning: Surface deformation and infrastructure stability
- Environmental Monitoring: Forest cover change and water body dynamics
Its all-weather capability will assist governments and researchers in policy-making, resource management, and climate resilience strategies.
Key Takeaways for Competitive Exams
- ISRO and NASA’s joint NISAR mission aims to revolutionize Earth observation through dual-frequency SAR technology.
- The NISAR satellite will be launched aboard ISRO’s GSLV-F16 on July 30, 2025, from Sriharikota.
- NISAR’s objectives include monitoring natural hazards, agricultural trends, disaster impacts, and ecosystem disturbances.
- The mission signifies significant international space cooperation and technological synergy between ISRO and NASA.
- NISAR’s data will benefit sectors like disaster management, climate research, agriculture, urban planning, and environmental monitoring.
