Latest news with #Nisar
India Today
2 days ago
- Science
- India Today
About the length of a pickup truck: Nisar will launch with the most advanced radar
The Nasa-Isro Synthetic Aperture Radar (Nisar) satellite, set for launch aboard Isro's GSLV on July 30, boasts the most advanced radar system ever deployed on an Earth observation the size of a pickup truck, Nisar's core innovation is its dual-frequency radar payload: an L-band radar from Nasa and an S-band radar from Isro, marking the first time two different radar frequencies operate together in L-band system uses a 24-centimeter wavelength, while its S-band employs a 10-centimeter wavelength. These allow the satellite to detect a wide range of Earth features in unprecedented detail, from deep within forests to subtle shifts in soil moisture or glacial ice. Nisar will generate a staggering 80 terabytes of data products daily. (Photo: Nasa) Each radar band offers unique advantages. The longer-wavelength L-band penetrates dense vegetation and is optimal for monitoring landscape topography and forests, while the S-band excels at tracking soil and ice features with high sensitivity, particularly in polar mission's technological centerpiece is a 12-meter deployable mesh reflector, the largest ever launched by Nasa, attached to a 9-meter boom. This shared antenna supports both radars, enabling simultaneous or independent operation and covering swaths over 240 kilometers wide during each leverages the innovative 'SweepSAR' technique: instead of scanning from side to side like traditional radars, it rapidly transmits and receives pulses across the entire swath, capturing echoes in quick succession and processing the data in real approach provides continuous, high-resolution, wide-area mapping of Earth's surface. This historic collaboration between Nasa and Isro enables Nisar to systematically map the planet. (Photo: Nasa) Together, the L- and S-band radars operate in fully polarimetric mode (transmitting and receiving in multiple polarisations) and produce time-series data that can detect ground movement as small as 4 millimeters per will generate a staggering 80 terabytes of data products daily, all processed and distributed via the cloud for global scientific historic collaboration between Nasa and Isro enables Nisar to systematically map the planet with a spatial resolution as fine as 3 meters, revolutionising how scientists monitor earthquakes, volcanoes, glaciers, and vegetation change, and offering unparalleled insights into Earth's dynamic systems.- EndsMust Watch
Time of India
3 days ago
- Science
- Time of India
NISAR satellite: This India-US mission can see through everything with bus-sized radar and detects even small changes on Earth
Nisar Launch Date: India and the United States are collaborating on the NISAR mission, set to launch on July 30, 2025. This joint Earth observation satellite, equipped with dual-frequency radar, will monitor Earth's surface changes with high precision. NISAR's data will support various applications, including disaster response, climate change mitigation, and resource management, providing valuable insights for scientists and policymakers. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads First satellite with dual-frequency radar What NISAR will monitor NISAR will observe Earth's surface changes with high precision. The satellite will support a range of applications: Ground deformation: It will monitor earthquakes, volcanic activity, and landslides by detecting centimeter-level changes in Earth's crust. Ice and glaciers: The satellite will track polar ice sheet movement and melting to inform climate models. Ecosystems and agriculture: It will assess changes in forests, crop growth, and vegetation patterns. Hydrology: It will track soil moisture and surface water changes for water resource management. Disaster response: Real-time data will aid emergency response to events like floods, cyclones, wildfires, and tsunamis. Coastal and maritime surveillance: It will monitor coastal erosion, sea ice, and ship movements. Nisar's Massive Daily Output: Will generate ~80 terabytes of data products per day. Data equivalent to ~150 standard 512 GB hard drives daily. Cloud-based processing and open access to data. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads L-band radar (NASA) uses longer wavelengths to penetrate through vegetation, soil, and ice, making it useful for monitoring underground features and environmental changes. S-band radar (ISRO) uses shorter wavelengths, which are more responsive to surface-level changes, enabling detailed analysis of crops, snow cover, and soil deformation. Collaboration over a decade Strategic and scientific value India and the United States are set to launch their first joint Earth observation satellite, the NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar ( NISAR ), on July 30, 2025, at 17:40 IST. The satellite, weighing 2,392 kilograms, will be launched onboard ISRO's GSLV-F16 rocket from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota. The launch vehicle will place the satellite into a 743 km sun-synchronous orbit, marking a significant milestone in international collaboration in space NISAR satellite will be the first in the world to operate a dual-frequency Synthetic Aperture Radar, using both NASA's L-band and ISRO's S-band radars. These will be mounted on a 12-meter unfurlable mesh reflector antenna developed by NASA and integrated into ISRO's modified I3K satellite mission uses SweepSAR technology to capture wide-swath, high-resolution radar images. With a swath width of 242 kilometers and an imaging resolution of 5 to 10 meters, NISAR will revisit the same location every 12 days, providing consistent, all-weather, day-and-night radar frequency on board serves a specific purpose:The NISAR mission is a result of more than ten years of collaboration between ISRO and NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL). The two space agencies have worked jointly to design, develop, and test the satellite to ISRO, 'NISAR can detect even small changes in the Earth's surface such as ground deformation, ice sheet movement and vegetation dynamics.'NASA and ISRO aim to use this data to support global efforts in food security, urban development, climate change mitigation, and disaster combining resources and radar expertise, the mission is expected to benefit scientists, policymakers, and disaster-response teams worldwide. The continuous flow of data from NISAR is intended to support long-term Earth observation and environmental monitoring mission is expected to contribute long-term insights into Earth's dynamic processes, supporting better decision-making for sustainable development.
India Today
3 days ago
- Science
- India Today
Nisar launch: How this Nasa-Isro mission will scan entire Earth in 12 days
India and the United States are set to launch their first joint Earth observation satellite — the Nasa-Isro Synthetic Aperture Radar (Nisar).The satellite will be launched on July 30, 2025, at 17:40 historic mission marks a new era of collaboration, harnessing the collective expertise of the Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) and Nasa to revolutionise the study of Earth's dynamic surface. The Nisar satellite during a testing phase. (Photo: Nasa) advertisementWHAT IS NISAR MISSION? The Nisar satellite, with a mass of 2,392 kg, will be launched aboard Isro's GSLV-F16 rocket from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC SHAR) in launch vehicle will deploy Nisar into a 743 km sun-synchronous orbit with an inclination of 98.40. This unique orbit favours continuous, consistent illumination, ideal for systematic Earth will be the world's first satellite to operate a dual-frequency Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR), combining Nasa's L-band and Isro's S-band on a sophisticated 12 m unfurlable mesh reflector and integrated with Isro's modified I3K satellite bus, this pioneering payload leverages 'SweepSAR' technology—making high-resolution, wide-swath Earth imaging possible for the first time at this scale. The Nisar mission marks a paradigm shift in international space cooperation. (Photo: Isro) HOW IT IS DIFFERENTL-band Radar (Nasa): Longer wavelengths penetrate vegetation, soil, and even ice, enabling detailed tracking of soil moisture, forest biomass, ice sheet thickness, and subsurface features.S-band Radar (Isro): Shorter wavelengths make the S-band highly sensitive to surface characteristics—useful for detecting crop structures, snow cover, and fine surface these sensors deliver comprehensive, all-weather, day-and-night data at a 12-day repeat interval, with imaging resolutions between 5 and 10 meters and a swath width of 242 km. It will be the world's first satellite to operate a dual-frequency Synthetic Aperture Radar. (Photo: Nasa) FROM SCIENCE TO DISASTER RELIEFNisar is designed to observe and quantify some of the planet's most critical natural phenomena, including:Ground Deformation: Monitor earthquakes, volcanoes, and landslides by detecting even centimeter-scale changes in the Earth's and Glaciers: Track movement and melting of polar ice sheets—a crucial input for climate Monitoring: Assess changes in forest cover, crop growth, and vegetation dynamics for sustainable Track soil moisture, surface water bodies, and changes in wetlands that are vital for water resource Response: Provide real-time data to support relief operations after cyclones, tsunamis, floods, and and Maritime Surveillance: Monitor coastal erosion, sea ice, and marine traffic for enhanced security and environmental Global ImpactThe Nisar mission marks a paradigm shift in international space cooperation. By pooling resources and complementary radar technologies, Isro and Nasa aim to deliver unprecedented insights into Earth's evolving landscapes. The mission's comprehensive data streams will empower governments, researchers, and disaster-response teams across the globe, aiding informed decision-making in areas such as food security, environmental protection, urban planning, and climate change mitigation.(With inputs from Kumar Kunal)- EndsMust Watch
Time of India
4 days ago
- Science
- Time of India
Indo-US $1.5 billion Satellite Nisar launch on July 30
BENGALURU: The Indian Space Research Organisation ( Isro ) Monday confirmed that the launch of the Nasa-Isro Synthetic Aperture Radar (Nisar) will happen on July 30 at 5.40pm from the spaceport in Sriharikota. The $1.5-billion satellite is the first joint Earth observation satellite developed jointly by Isro and Nasa. 'The launch will be carried out using Isro's GSLV-F16 rocket ,' Isro said. TOI had reported last week that Isro was targetting end of July to launch the satellite. Nisar is a 2,392 kg satellite equipped with a dual-frequency synthetic aperture radar (SAR), combining Nasa's L-band and Isro's S-band sensors. The satellite features Nasa's 12-metre unfurlable mesh reflector antenna, integrated with Isro's modified I3K satellite bus. 'Once in orbit, GSLV-F16 will place Nisar into a 743 km sun-synchronous orbit with an inclination of 98.40°. Nisar will scan the entire globe every 12 days, providing high-resolution, all-weather, day-and-night data. Using SweepSAR technology for the first time, the satellite will observe Earth with a 242 km swath and fine spatial resolution,' Isro said. Stating that the satellite can detect subtle changes in the planet's surface, including ground deformation, ice sheet movements, and vegetation dynamics, Isro said the mission will support a range of critical applications such as sea ice classification, ship detection, shoreline monitoring, storm tracking, soil moisture mapping, surface water resource management, and disaster response. 'The launch marks a milestone in over a decade of collaboration between Isro and Nasa's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL). Technical teams from both agencies have worked together on the mission since its inception, building a platform that combines space-based radar observations with a focus on long-term global monitoring,' Isro said. Isro chairman V Narayanan had told TOI last week: '...This partnership is different from what we've had in the past. Like I've told you earlier, strength respects only strength and in this mission the fact that we are equal partners shows how Isro and India have grown.'
India Today
4 days ago
- Science
- India Today
Isro to launch Nisar mission with Nasa on July 30. Full details here
In a major international space cooperation, the Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) and the United States' National Aeronautics and Space Administration (Nasa) are set to launch the Nasa-Isro Synthetic Aperture Radar (Nisar) confirmed to that the launch has been scheduled for July 30 from Satish Dhawan Space Centre in heavy-lift vehicle will ignite from the launchpad at 5:40 pm IST for lift-off with the most expensive joint mission between India and the The Nisar mission is the first joint Earth-observing satellite mission between India and the US, cementing a decade of technological partnership. Developed at a cost of $1.5billion, Nisar boasts cutting-edge radar capabilities that will provide detailed, three-dimensional mapping of the Earth's land and ice surfaces with unprecedented satellite's dual-frequency radar — the world's first in orbit — combines Nasa's L-band and Isro's S-band synthetic aperture radar will orbit the globe every 12 days, capturing crucial data used to monitor:Ecosystem changes and biomass deformation due to earthquakes, landslides, and retreat and advance of glaciers and ice moisture and groundwater in sea levels and urban information is vital for scientists, disaster response teams, and policymakers capability to penetrate vegetation and clouds, and to operate day and night, ensures comprehensive, reliable data regardless of weather LEADERSHIP IN LAUNCH OPERATIONSIsro leads the launch operations, employing its Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV) from development involved major engineering feats, including assembling the 12-meter deployable mesh antenna and integrating complex radar checks and integration were completed earlier this year, with collaborative teams from both nations ensuring readiness for DATA FOR GLOBAL BENEFITNisar's data will be freely available to researchers and emergency managers, with the promise of near-real-time delivery during crises such as floods or transparency aims to enhance disaster preparedness, climate science, agricultural resilience, and natural resource management across the mission will not only map the planet with unmatched detail but also symbolise the power of international cooperation in advancing science and humanity.- EndsMust Watch
