NEW DELHI: NASA has announced that the NISAR satellite, the world’s most advanced and expensive Earth observation satellite, will likely launch in March 2025. Jointly developed by NASA and ISRO, the satellite was initially set to launch in 2024 but faced delays due to technical challenges.
The NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR) satellite weighs 2.8 tonnes and will launch from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre on India’s southeastern coast. Developed over a decade, it features dual-frequency radar: NASA’s L-band (1.25 GHz) and ISRO’s S-band (3.20 GHz). These advanced radars will provide highly accurate data.
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NISAR will scan nearly all of Earth’s land and ice surfaces twice every 12 days. It will measure changes in ecosystems, land and sea ice, and the solid Earth. Its high-resolution images will help researchers better understand climate change, manage natural resources, and respond to disasters. The satellite will also provide insights into the Earth’s crust, including glaciers, ice sheets, and sea ice, as well as forests and wetlands.
The mission, valued at over Rs 5,800 crore, represents a major achievement in international space collaboration. The satellite’s data will help scientists study solid Earth movements and their effects, offering critical insights for disaster preparedness and response.
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NISAR’s observations will have far-reaching benefits. It will help monitor environmental changes, assess risks from natural disasters, and improve resource management. Its ability to track minute changes in the Earth’s surface will make it a vital tool for understanding our planet.
This mission underscores the importance of global cooperation in space exploration. By combining NASA’s and ISRO’s expertise, NISAR will deliver groundbreaking data to address some of humanity’s most pressing challenges.