NASA-ISRO’s NISAR Satellite Set for Launch
The NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR) satellite is a joint Earth science mission. It is scheduled to launch on July 30 from India’s Satish Dhawan Space Centre.
Key Highlights
- Launch Time: 8:10 a.m. EDT (5:40 p.m. IST) on July 30
- Spacecraft: Pickup-truck-sized NISAR satellite with dual-frequency radar system
- Orbit: Circles Earth 14 times a day, scanning land and ice surfaces every 12 days
- Data: Provides insights on soil moisture, vegetation, landslides, floods, and climate change
Mission Objectives
- Monitor Earth’s Surface: Track changes in land and ice surfaces
- Disaster Management: Aid in preparing for and responding to natural disasters like floods and hurricanes
- Agriculture: Help monitor crops and soil moisture
International Collaboration
- NASA-ISRO Partnership: Significant collaboration between NASA and ISRO
- Dual-Radar System: L-band radar built by NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory and S-band radar built by India’s Space Applications Centre