NASA and ISRO's Groundbreaking NISAR Satellite Set for Launch: What You Need to Know
NISAR Satellite Launch Announcement
New Delhi: The NISAR satellite, a collaborative effort between NASA and ISRO, is set to be declared operational this Friday, as confirmed by ISRO chairman V Narayanan on Wednesday.
This satellite, known as the NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR), is touted as the most costly Earth observation satellite ever constructed, capable of monitoring the majority of the Earth's land and ice surfaces twice within a 12-day period.
Weighing 2,400 kg, NISAR was successfully launched on July 30 from ISRO's Satish Dhawan Space Centre aboard a GSLV rocket.
Narayanan stated that the complete data calibration has been finalized, and a conclave is scheduled for November 7 to officially announce the satellite's operational status during the Emerging Science, Technology and Innovation Conclave (ESTIC).
The NISAR mission is unique as it incorporates two Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) systems: the L-Band and S-Band sensors.
The L-band radar is designed to penetrate forest canopies, allowing it to measure soil moisture, forest biomass, and the movement of land and ice surfaces.
Conversely, the S-band radar is adept at detecting small vegetation and can monitor specific agricultural types, grassland ecosystems, and snow moisture. Both radar systems are capable of collecting data regardless of weather conditions, day or night.
Narayanan emphasized the exceptional quality of the data, noting that the Earth can be scanned every 12 days, making this satellite an invaluable asset.
Additionally, he mentioned that the first uncrewed mission of the Gaganyaan project, India's human spaceflight initiative, is anticipated to occur in January, with plans to send astronauts into space aboard a domestically developed rocket by 2027.
So far, over 8,000 tests have been conducted for this mission, with ISRO planning three uncrewed missions before launching astronauts into orbit.
Furthermore, India aims to launch the first module of the Bhartiya Antariksh Station by 2028, with the goal of having a fully operational five-module orbital lab by 2035.
This Indian space station will weigh 52 tonnes and will be capable of accommodating three to four crew members for extended periods, and up to six members for shorter missions.