NISAR Satellite Launch: Confirmed: Long delayed Nasa-Isro’s joint mission ‘NISAR’ to launch in June; Indian astronaut to visit ISS under Axiom-4 mission in May

Representative picture (Picture credit score: X/@NASAJPL)

NEW DELHI: After a sequence of postponements, the federal government has lastly confirmed the long-awaited launch of the NISAR satellite tv for pc for June 2025, marking a important second in the nation’s rising area ambitions. Along with this proud feat for the nation, one other announcement associated to India’s upcoming participation in the Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4) was additionally made.
In this historic mission, Indian Air Force Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla will grow to be the primary Indian astronaut to visit the International Space Station (ISS) and the second Indian to be in area after Rakesh Sharma.
These bulletins got here throughout a high-level evaluation assembly chaired by Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh.
The Nasa-Isro Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR) satellite tv for pc has been under growth for over a decade. It was initially scheduled for a 2024 launch however confronted setbacks due to technical points, significantly with its 12-metre radar antenna reflector.
The mission, which had been pushed to March 2025, is now confirmed for a June liftoff aboard Isro’s GSLV-F16 from Sriharikota.

What is NISAR mission?

NISAR represents a landmark collaboration between Nasa and Isro. It is the primary Earth-observing satellite tv for pc to carry dual-frequency artificial aperture radars, Nasa’s L-band and Isro’s S-band, which is able to enable it to monitor modifications in Earth’s floor with unmatched precision.
The satellite tv for pc, weighing 2.8 tonnes and costing over Rs 5,800 crore, will scan almost all of Earth’s land and ice surfaces each 12 days, offering high-resolution information on pure disasters, local weather change, land use, and the motion of the Earth’s crust.
The mission is not only a scientific milestone but in addition a geopolitical one. As per Nasa, NISAR will ship important information to observe glaciers, forests, wetlands, and infrastructure impacted by pure disasters like earthquakes and landslides.
The dual-band radar expertise permits it to detect floor modifications as small as just a few centimetres, even under cloud cowl or dense vegetation, making it perfect for each analysis and catastrophe response.
The satellite tv for pc’s key {hardware}, collectively developed and built-in throughout amenities in India and the United States, features a deployable growth, radar reflectors, GPS receivers, and high-speed information communication techniques. With its cloud-based information storage and open entry, NISAR is anticipated to profit scientists and policymakers around the globe.
The satellite tv for pc’s affirmation comes as India intensifies its area efforts with the Gaganyaan mission and its debut on the ISS via Axiom Mission 4, a Nasa-approved non-public mission by US-based Axiom Space.

What is Axiom-4 mission?

Slated for no sooner than May 2025, Ax-4 will ship Shubhanshu Shukla to the ISS aboard a SpaceX Dragon rocket, making him the primary Indian to attain the station and the second to go into area after Rakesh Sharma.
Shukla will function the Ax-4 mission pilot under commander Peggy Whitson, alongside astronauts from Poland and Hungary.
The crew will conduct over 60 analysis experiments throughout their 14-day keep aboard the ISS, together with seven research led by Isro in partnership with Nasa and ESA.
These span a large spectrum, from finding out algae progress in microgravity to exploring therapies for muscle loss and analysing the genetics of resilience in excessive environments.
The Ax-4 mission marks a key second for India’s world scientific collaborations. Axiom Space says this will probably be its most research-intensive mission to date, involving 31 nations and paving the way in which for superior microgravity analysis and Earth-bound advantages.
Group Captain Prashanth Nair has been named Shukla’s backup.