India and US Launch NISAR, the World’s First Dual-Radar Earth Observation Satellite

India Our Bureau - : Jul 31, 2025 - : 1:41 am

In a giant leap for international space collaboration and Earth science, India and the United States have successfully launched NISAR, the world’s first satellite equipped with dual radar systems. The satellite lifted off on 30 July 2025 at 5:40 pm IST from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, aboard India’s GSLV-F16 rocket.

The mission marks multiple milestones. It’s the first time a Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV) has been used to place a payload into a Sun-synchronous polar orbit, and it represents the most advanced Earth observation mission jointly developed by NASA and ISRO. Weighing in at 2,392 kilograms, the satellite was placed into a 734-kilometre orbit after a smooth 19-minute flight.

A Mission Built on Technological Partnership

At the heart of NISAR, short for NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar, is a unique combination of radar systems: NASA’s L-band and ISRO’s S-band sensors. Working in tandem, they can capture high-resolution images in all weather conditions, day or night, and detect ground movements as small as a centimetre. The satellite will orbit Earth every 12 days, mapping landscapes and changes with unprecedented detail.

The collaboration has involved years of engineering and logistics between the two space agencies. NASA contributed the L-band radar, a 12-metre unfurlable antenna, GPS receivers, and telemetry hardware. ISRO supplied the S-band radar, the satellite bus, and managed launch operations through the GSLV-F16—a launcher equipped with India’s indigenous cryogenic upper stage, flying its 12th mission with this technology and its first to a polar orbit.

Monitoring a Changing Earth, Openly and Globally

NISAR’s purpose extends far beyond technical achievement. It is designed to provide real-time, openly accessible data for scientific research and disaster management worldwide. The satellite will monitor glaciers, sea ice, forest cover, earthquakes, landslides, volcanic activity, soil moisture, crop growth, and coastal changes—making it a critical tool for tracking climate change and enhancing global resilience.

Speaking about the mission, ISRO Chairman V. Narayanan noted that the satellite’s benefits will extend well beyond India and the United States. “It is a mission for the world, one that supports the global community in managing natural resources and preparing for disasters,” he said.

India’s Minister for Science and Technology, Dr Jitendra Singh, called the launch a “game-changer” for disaster response, agriculture, aviation, and shipping, stating that the free flow of NISAR data would make it an indispensable resource for governments and agencies worldwide.

Challenges Overcome, and the Road Ahead

The mission was not without its setbacks. Initially scheduled for 2024, the launch was delayed due to a technical issue with the satellite’s large antenna, which had to be returned to the United States for modifications before final assembly at ISRO’s facilities in Bengaluru.

With the satellite now in orbit, NISAR enters its deployment phase, during which its 12-metre antenna will be unfolded using a 9-metre boom developed at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory. This will be followed by a 90-day commissioning phase, during which both radar systems and other spacecraft components will undergo rigorous calibration. Once complete, full science operations will begin, with a planned mission life of three years, and potential for extension based on performance.

As the GSLV-F16 blazed a new trail to polar orbit, it also reinforced India’s status as a reliable launch provider for complex missions. With NISAR, India and the US have shown what is possible when two leading democracies unite behind a shared scientific vision, offering not just advanced technology, but timely knowledge for a rapidly changing planet

indian-space-research-organisation-isro / nisar / gslv-f16 / nasa /

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