A major milestone has been reached for one of the most ambitious Earth observation missions to date, as the joint NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR) satellite has arrived on the launch pad at India’s Satish Dhawan Space Centre.
The GSLV rocket carrying the U.S.-Indian NISAR Earth-observing satellite rolling out to the launch pad Credit: ISRO
The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) rolled out the NISAR satellite, mated to its GSLV (Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle), on July 24 in preparation for launch. Liftoff is scheduled for Wednesday, July 30, at 8:10 a.m. EDT (1210 GMT; 5:40 p.m. IST), and the event will be broadcast live courtesy of ISRO.
Developed through a collaboration between NASA and ISRO, the NISAR mission is designed to provide unprecedented, high-resolution insight into the dynamic changes of Earth's surface over the next five years. Using cutting-edge synthetic aperture radar (SAR) technology, the satellite will be capable of capturing detailed data regardless of weather conditions or time of day.
According to ISRO, “NISAR will image the global land and ice-covered surfaces, including islands, sea ice, and selected ocean areas every 12 days.” The data will support a wide range of scientific objectives including monitoring land deformation, studying ice sheet dynamics, mapping ecosystems, and tracking changes in the oceans.
The mission’s data will be used by both U.S. and Indian scientists to address environmental challenges and better understand natural hazards such as earthquakes, landslides, and volcanic activity.
Once launched, the 5,300-pound (2,400-kilogram) spacecraft is expected to reach orbit approximately 18.5 minutes after liftoff. It will be placed into a near-polar, sun-synchronous orbit at an altitude of 464 miles (747 kilometers), enabling comprehensive coverage of Earth’s surface.
The upcoming launch marks the 18th flight of the GSLV, a three-stage expendable rocket standing 169.6 feet (51.7 meters) tall. The vehicle has played a crucial role in India’s satellite launch capabilities, and the NISAR mission adds another feather to its cap.
Add comment
Comments