NISAR Satellite to Become Operational on November 7: ISRO

India and the United States are set to mark a historic milestone in space collaboration as the NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR) satellite becomes operational on November 7. Announcing the development, ISRO Chairman V. Narayanan confirmed that the joint Earth observation mission has completed all calibration processes and will officially begin operations following a conclave this week.

A Milestone in Indo-US Space Cooperation

NISAR represents the first major Earth observation mission jointly developed by NASA and ISRO. Weighing 2,400 kilograms, it was launched on July 30 from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre aboard the GSLV rocket. The mission aims to enhance global climate monitoring and environmental mapping capabilities by providing detailed, repeatable, and accurate data on land and ice surface movements.

Advanced Radar Technology for Earth Observation

The satellite is equipped with dual-band radar instruments—the L-Band developed by NASA and the S-Band by ISRO—making it the world’s first mission to carry two SAR (Synthetic Aperture Radar) systems. The L-Band radar can penetrate forest canopies to study soil moisture, forest biomass, and ice dynamics, while the S-Band radar observes small vegetation, agricultural patterns, and snow moisture. Both sensors can collect data day and night, irrespective of weather conditions.

Scientific and Environmental Applications

With the ability to scan nearly the entire Earth’s land and ice surfaces twice every 12 days, NISAR will revolutionise environmental monitoring. Its data will be crucial for understanding natural hazards such as earthquakes, landslides, and floods, as well as long-term phenomena like glacier retreat and agricultural changes. The mission’s high-resolution imagery will aid global scientists in tracking ecosystem responses to climate change.

Exam Oriented Facts

• NISAR is the first Earth observation mission jointly developed by NASA and ISRO.
• The satellite weighs about 2,400 kg and was launched using ISRO’s GSLV rocket.
• It carries dual radar systems – L-Band (NASA) and S-Band (ISRO).
• NISAR can monitor most of the planet’s land and ice surfaces twice every 12 days.

ISRO’s Upcoming Missions: Gaganyaan and Bhartiya Antariksh Station

Alongside NISAR, ISRO is preparing for the first uncrewed mission under the “Gaganyaan” programme in January, paving the way for India’s first human spaceflight by 2027. The agency has conducted over 8,000 tests to ensure crew safety and mission reliability. Looking ahead, India also plans to launch the first module of the “Bhartiya Antariksh Station” by 2028, aiming for a fully operational five-module orbital facility by 2035 capable of hosting up to six astronauts.