ISRO Gears Up For Earth Observation Satellite NISAR's Launch As Countdown Begins
The NISAR satellite will launch from Sriharikota on July 30, to provide high-resolution Earth imaging for monitoring natural disasters and ecosystem changes.
In a significant step for global Earth observation, the NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR) satellite will lift-off from Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Andhra Praesh's Sriharikota on July 30.
This groundbreaking mission will provide unprecedented insights into Earth's dynamic systems, including natural disasters, ice sheet movement, ecosystem changes, and agricultural patterns.
Jointly developed by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and the US's National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), the satellite will also provide high-resolution, all-weather, day-and-night imaging of Earth.
NISAR satellite will launch aboard India's GSLV-F16 rocket at 5.40pm on Wednesday. The countdown has begun for the much-awaited launch, ISRO said in a post on X.
'…1 Day to Launch. GSLV-F16 is ready to carry NISAR into orbit. Final prep underway. Launch countdown has commenced at 14:10 hours today. 🗓️ July 30, 2025 Live from: 17:10 Hours IST Liftoff at : 17:40 Hours IST (sic), ISRO tweeted on Tuesday.
The 2393-kg satellite developed at a cost of $1.5 billion, marks the culmination of a decade of hard-work by scientists from NASA and ISRO who persevered through the pandemic to bring the mission to fruition.
One of the biggest Indo-US satellite missions, NISAR will scan nearly all the Earth's land and ice surfaces twice every 12 days, observing changes as small as a centimeter with high-resolution imagery, collecting earth observation like no other NASA satellite before it.
The satellite worth $1.5 billion with NASA accounting for roughly $1.2 billion is one of the most expensive earth-imaging satellites ever built. While NASA has contributed the L-band Synthetic Aperture Radar – a high-rate telecommunication subsystem, GPS receivers and a deployable 12-meter unfurlable antenna. ISRO, on its part has provided the S-band SAR payload, the spacecraft bus to accommodate both payloads, the GSLV rocket and all associated launch services.
With launch preparations underway, the mission is expected to benefit not just India and the United States, but also support global decision-making and enhance emergency response efforts worldwide.
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