The NISAR mission, a collaborative effort between ISRO and NASA, will exhibit Indian space engineering capabilities for Earth statement on a global scale, a prime scientist has stated.
The NISAR (NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar) is a global mission, and its knowledge will be accessible for obtain worldwide by customers, stated Radha Krishna Kavuluru, former Ground Segment Engineer and Ex-Project Manager of NISAR.
ISRO is ready to launch the NISAR satellite tv for pc aboard the GSLV-Mk II rocket from Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh, on July 30 at 5:40 p.m. The GSLV-F16 marks the 18th flight of India’s Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle and the ninth operational flight with an indigenous cryogenic stage.
The countdown is anticipated to start later on Tuesday (July 29, 2025), ISRO sources stated.
This mission is the primary GSLV launch to attain a Sun-Synchronous Polar Orbit. The 51.7-meter-tall, three-stage rocket will carry off from the second launch pad, roughly 135 km east of Chennai. About 19 minutes after launch, the satellite tv for pc is anticipated to be positioned into its designated orbit.
Explained | What are ISRO and NASA aiming to attain with the NISAR satellite tv for pc?
Elaborating on the mission, Mr. Kavuluru defined that NASA gives the L-Band, whereas ISRO contributes the S-Band for the Synthetic Aperture Radar, enabling the gathering of huge quantities of information.
“The satellite will transmit extensive data covering the Earth, including Antarctica, the North Pole, and oceans,” he informed PTI.
Highlighting the mission’s significance, Mr. Kavuluru famous that not like earlier ISRO statement satellites such because the Resourcesat and RISAT collection, which might seize photos globally however had been operationally targeted on India and surrounding areas, NISAR will acquire knowledge throughout the whole globe for operational use.
“This data will be extensively utilised by governments and commercial entities worldwide,” he stated.
“NISAR is one of the key missions that will garner large-scale operational user feedback from across the globe,” Mr. Kavuluru emphasised.
“All countries will leverage NISAR data for various applications, showcasing the strength of Indian space engineering. This is the core importance of the mission,” he added.
Mr. Kavuluru underscored the mission’s significance as ISRO’s first main partnership with NASA for an Earth statement satellite tv for pc. “This collaboration fosters significant technical exchange, with ISRO and NASA sharing insights into their respective planning and execution processes,” he stated.
Mr. Kavuluru added that ISRO will course of and make a lot of the knowledge obtainable as open-source, accessible to customers globally. The satellite tv for pc, which will cowl the whole Earth each 12 days, will present roughly 2.5 coverages per thirty days and 10 coverages in 120 days.
“This will enable us to monitor seasonal changes, including forest dynamics, mountain shifts, and glacier movements in regions like the Himalayas and Antarctica,” he defined.
“This is a highly significant, high-value, and ambitious mission for ISRO,” Mr. Kavuluru remarked. The GSLV-F16/NISAR mission is designed for a lifespan of 5 years.
