Why in the News?

The NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR) has been successfully launched from Sriharikota using GSLV Mk-II.

About NISAR (NASA–ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar):

• Launch Vehicle: GSLV Mk-II | Launch Site: Sriharikota, India
• Mission Life: 3 years (planned); 5+ years (design)
• Orbit: Sun-synchronous polar orbit at 747 km with 98.4° inclination
• Objective: High-precision monitoring of Earth’s surface changes—tectonics, agriculture, ecosystems, ice, floods, and landslides
• Data Access: Free and near real-time; disaster maps delivered in under 5 hours
• Hardware Contributions:
  • NASA: L-band SAR, 12m antenna, avionics
  • ISRO: S-band SAR, satellite bus, launch services
• Development and Collaboration:
  • Initial Concept: 2007 (NASA); ISRO joined in 2012
  • Formal Agreement: 2014
  • Investment: NASA – ~$1.16 billion; ISRO – ~$90 million

Key Features of NISAR:

• What is Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR)?

• • Operates day/night, all-weather
  • Simulates large radar antenna via motion
  • Penetrates clouds, vegetation, and soil

• Dual-Band SAR:

• • L-band SAR (1.257 GHz):
    • Deeper penetration; ideal for forests, tectonic shifts, permafrost
  • S-band SAR (3.2 GHz):
    • Surface details; supports agriculture, flood mapping, biomass tracking

• Radar Antenna:

• • 12-meter deployable mesh reflector
  • Resolution: 3–10 m spatial; cm-level vertical
  • Swath Width: 240 km

• Imaging Frequency:

• • Global land/ice coverage every 12 days
  • Less frequent in polar zones

• Data Output: Generates 80 TB/day (3x current Earth observatories):

• • Biomass and cropland maps
  • High-resolution flood and infrastructure data

Applications and Impact:

• Disaster Relief: Before-and-after imagery for planning
• Climate Monitoring: Glacier melt, forest degradation
• Agriculture: Crop health, rotation, food security
• Infrastructure: Detects land subsidence (dams, cities)
• Strategic Value:
  • Most powerful Earth-observing radar satellite
  • First with dual SAR payload
  • Strengthens India–US space partnership (Artemis, human spaceflight)

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