ISRO Missions and Discoveries

NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR)

Why in the News?

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

NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR)

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)
[UPSC 2010] Question: In the context of space technology, what is Bhuvan, recently in the news ?

Options: (a) A mini satellite launched by ISRO for promoting the distance education in India (b) The name given to the next Moon Impact Probe, for Chandrayaan-II (c) A geoportal of ISRO with 3D imaging capabilities of India* (d) A space telescope developed by  India

 

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