NASA-ISRO to launch advanced NISAR satellite on July 30 for global climate and Earth monitoring: Key timings, how to watch live and other important information
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), in collaboration with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), is preparing for one of its most significant space ventures to date—the launch of the NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR) satellite. Scheduled for liftoff on July 30, 2025, at 5:40 PM IST, the mission will use the GSLV-F16 rocket from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota.
NISAR represents a landmark in international space collaboration, integrating NASA's expertise in L-band radar technology with ISRO's advanced S-band radar systems. The mission is designed to produce high-resolution, all-weather, day-and-night imaging of Earth, enabling scientists to monitor critical environmental changes such as land subsidence, glacier movement, and ecosystem health with unmatched precision. This makes NISAR one of the most advanced Earth observation missions ever developed.
NASA-ISRO's NISAR launch: Schedule timings and how to watch live
The NISAR launch event will be streamed live on ISRO's official YouTube channel, starting at 5:10 PM IST to allow global audiences to witness the historic moment. Following liftoff, the GSLV-F16 rocket will place the NISAR satellite into a Sun-synchronous polar orbit at an altitude of 740 kilometers within 19 minutes of flight. This orbit will enable continuous coverage of Earth's surface under consistent lighting conditions, which is crucial for accurate data comparison over time.
This launch is notable as it is ISRO's 102nd overall mission and its first GSLV launch dedicated to a radar-based Earth observation satellite. The mission underscores India's growing role in global space science and its ability to execute highly complex international collaborations.
What will NISAR study
The NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR) mission is designed to study Earth's changing dynamics in unprecedented detail, providing vital data for the global scientific community. According to ISRO, the satellite's primary objectives include:
Monitoring land and ice deformation to understand earthquakes, landslides, and glacial melting.
Mapping land ecosystems and studying forest dynamics to track biodiversity and carbon storage.
Observing oceanic regions, including coastal changes and sea-level rise, with shared research interests for Indian and U.S. scientific teams.
NISAR will also focus on seasonal changes in forest cover, detect mountain shifts, and monitor glacier movements in critical regions such as the Himalayas, Antarctica, and polar areas. This data will improve climate modeling, disaster preparedness, and natural resource management.
How long did it take to develop NISAR
The NISAR mission has been a decade in the making, taking 8–10 years to design, develop, and integrate its advanced payloads and systems. Scientists from ISRO and NASA worked in close collaboration, combining their radar technologies and engineering expertise to build one of the most sophisticated Earth observation satellites ever developed.
Following its launch, scientists will conduct an initial phase known as satellite commissioning, ensuring all systems function optimally before full-scale Earth observation operations begin.
Why NISAR is a game-changer for Earth observation
NISAR is regarded as the most advanced radar imaging satellite ever developed by NASA and ISRO. It carries two sophisticated radar systems:
L-band Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) provided by NASA, known for its ability to penetrate dense vegetation and monitor soil moisture, forestry, and glacier dynamics.
S-band Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) supplied by ISRO, optimized for high-resolution imaging of agricultural land, urban infrastructure, and coastal regions.
This dual-band capability gives NISAR an unparalleled advantage in providing all-weather, day-and-night data, unaffected by cloud cover or atmospheric conditions. The data will enable continuous monitoring of Earth's ecosystems, helping predict natural disasters like earthquakes, floods, and landslides. Scientists will also use it to study crop health, urban development, and the impact of climate change on polar ice caps and sea levels.
GSLV F16: Three-stage rocket with cryogenic upper stage
The Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV) F16 is a three-stage rocket engineered for heavy-payload missions. Standing 51.7 meters tall and weighing approximately 420 tons, it comprises:
First Stage – Solid-fueled booster stage providing initial thrust.
Second Stage – Liquid-fueled engine ensuring stable mid-flight propulsion.
Cryogenic Upper Stage – An advanced indigenous cryogenic engine using super-cooled liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen.
This marks the ninth use of an indigenous cryogenic stage, showcasing India's self-reliance in high-end space propulsion technology. The cryogenic engine's efficiency is critical in achieving precise orbital insertion, allowing NISAR to function at its full potential for Earth observation missions.
Global Impact of NISAR data
NISAR is designed to scan the entire planet twice every 12 days. Over its three-year baseline mission, it will provide high-resolution imagery of Earth every six days, enabling near-real-time environmental monitoring. Unlike earlier Indian Earth observation satellites that primarily focused on domestic applications, NISAR's global mission profile means its data will benefit scientists, governments, and industries worldwide.
Applications of NISAR data include:
Climate Change Monitoring – Measuring glacier retreat, deforestation, and carbon storage changes.
Natural Disaster Management – Early detection of landslides, earthquakes, and volcanic activity.
Urban Development – Monitoring land subsidence in megacities and infrastructure resilience.
Agriculture – Supporting crop monitoring, soil moisture analysis, and food security planning.
By delivering continuous, high-quality radar data, NISAR is expected to transform global environmental management and climate research, making it one of the most influential Earth science missions of this decade.
Also Read |
NASA alert! Asteroid 2025 OL1 set for close Earth encounter on July 30 at 16,900 mph; scientists track rare near-Earth flyby
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
39 minutes ago
- Time of India
Axiom Mission-4 a success for India and Gaganyaan, says astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla
Academy Empower your mind, elevate your skills India's first astronaut aboard the International Space Station (ISS), Shubhanshu Shukla , on Friday said the success of Axiom Mission-4 (Ax-4) marks India's return to orbit after 41 years, calling it 'India's second orbit.' 'And this time, we are ready not just to fly, but to lead,' he said during a post-mission press briefing, adding that his journey was not just as a spacefarer, but as a messenger of what's now possible for 39-year-old Indian Air Force Group Captain said he feels fit and ready for another space mission. Shukla added that he is confident the knowledge gathered aboard the ISS will prove invaluable to India's upcoming Gaganyaan human spaceflight his time aboard the ISS, Shukla noted that the sight of the Indian flag floating behind him symbolised the country's re-entry into global space conversations 'not as a spectator, but as an equal participant.'Responding to a question from ET, Shukla, who served as the mission's pilot, said the experiments designed by ISRO and Indian researchers were focussed on enabling India's human spaceflight ambitions. 'All these experiments we did on the station also have real-time benefits here on earth, whether it's for understanding degenerative diseases or ensuring food security,' he added that some experiments, such as stem cell research conducted in microgravity, could help decode why muscle atrophy happens and how it might be prevented or delayed, both in space and on earth. India's contribution to the mission included seven microgravity experiments across disciplines such as space medicine, agriculture, and biology, part of the larger set of 60 scientific investigations on four-member Ax-4 crew, comprising astronauts from India, Poland's Sławosz Uznański, Hungary's Tibor Kapu, and NASA veteran Peggy Whitson, will now enter a two-week debriefing phase, during which mission learnings will be reviewed and shared with respective space on the outreach efforts and the true success of the mission, Shukla said the most common question he heard from children was, 'How does one become an astronaut? 'If children across Bharat are already asking these questions, we are halfway there. The rest is just enabling them.'Ax-4 was launched on June 25 and concluded with the return of the crew on July 15.
&w=3840&q=100)
Business Standard
an hour ago
- Business Standard
Shubhanshu Shukla calls space journey start of India's second space orbit
Astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla on Friday described his journey to space as the beginning of India's "second orbit" with the aim to lead in the area of human spaceflight. Addressing a virtual press conference, Shukla and his co-travellers of the Axiom-4 mission to the International Space Station shared their experiences of living in microgravity and conducting experiments that would help humanity. "In a realm like space exploration, in decades of global collaboration, the moment in this mission that stood out for me was speaking to the prime minister of Bharat while the Indian flag floated behind me," Shukla said. He said that moment symbolised India's re-entry into the conversation, not as a spectator but as an equal participant. "After 41 years, a Bharatiya returned to space. But this time, it was not a solitary leap, it was the beginning of India's second orbit. And this time, we are ready, not just to fly but to lead," Shukla said. Shukla became the second Indian to travel to space after Rakesh Sharma's sojourn as part of the Soviet Russian mission in 1984. India plans to launch its own human space-flight mission Gaganyaan in 2027. He thanked the government, ISRO, Indian Air Force and NASA for their unwavering support, coordination and belief in the mission that made it possible for him to travel to space as a messenger for what is now possible for the nation. Shukla said he was overwhelmed by the outpouring of love and support from across the country. "Nothing could have prepared me for the love and support that came through," he said. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
&w=3840&q=100)
Business Standard
2 hours ago
- Business Standard
India eyes 10% global space market share, greater private role: Isro chief
India is aiming to capture 8–10 per cent of the global commercial space market over the next decade, up from its current share of less than 2 per cent, according to Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) Chairman Dr V Narayanan. In an interview to news agency PTI, Narayanan said this would require significant upgrades in infrastructure, industry-led development, and manufacturing capabilities to meet growing domestic and international demand. 'In the initial phase of our activities, we were not focusing on the commercial aspect. But today, we are in the commercial field,' he said. Narayanan said Isro's OneWeb India Mission (2022) helped establish India's commercial credibility. Under the mission, Isro successfully placed 36 OneWeb satellites into their intended orbits. Growing credibility and international demand As India's space capabilities gain recognition globally, other countries are increasingly seeking Isro's services, Narayanan said. India has conducted 14 commercial launches and launched 433 satellites for 32 countries over the past 50 years, underscoring its expanding presence in the global space sector. He also highlighted India's recent launch of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's (Nasa) NISAR (Nasa-Isro Synthetic Aperture Radar) satellite—its most expensive to date—using the Mark II F16 rocket. Soon, India is also expected to launch a 6,500-kg commercial satellite from the United States aboard its Mark III rocket, he said. 'Don't think India is the India of 1947. Today, we are a spacefaring, dynamic nation,' he said. 'On the 30th of last month, we launched Nasa's NISAR satellite, worth ₹10,300 crore. Nasa came to India for the launch. That shows our technological capability, advancement, and the precision with which our people work. This is what's motivating other countries to come to us.' The road ahead: Expanding private participation Narayanan emphasised the urgent need for greater private sector participation through public-private partnership (PPP) models to meet rising demand. 'When I joined Isro, there used to be one launch every three years. This year, we plan to have one every month,' he said. He noted that Isro alone cannot meet such demand. 'Over the last 10 years, our manpower has grown by less than five per cent. That's why the private sector needs to step in, in a big way.' Looking ahead, Narayanan projected that Isro may require three times the number of active satellites currently in orbit to meet both national and commercial requirements. 'So far, we have developed 132 satellites, of which 55 are currently in orbit, serving the people of this country,' he said. 'These services ensure national safety and security. Do you know how many satellites are required for that? Two years ago, our counterparts deployed 100 satellites in a single year. The demand for satellite technology is enormous.' Earlier this month, the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (IN-SPACe) transferred 10 Isro-developed technologies to six Indian firms across the space value chain. The move aims to boost commercial use, encourage indigenisation, and reduce reliance on foreign technology in satellite launches, ground infrastructure, and geospatial tools.
