NISAR Satellite Set for Launch: A Milestone in Indo-US Space Collaboration

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is gearing up for the historic launch of NISAR, a cutting-edge earth observation satellite, developed in conjunction with NASA. Scheduled for liftoff from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh, the event is set for Wednesday at 17:40 IST.

This long-gestating mission, costing over USD 1.5 billion, represents a decade of Indo-US collaboration. Interestingly, NISAR will be launched into orbit via the Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle GSLV-F16, marking a departure from the usual use of PSLV for such orbits. This magnetic satellite, weighing 2,392 kg, will orbit the Earth every 97 minutes, providing comprehensive images of land, ice, and selected oceanic surfaces every 12 days.

With a mission life of five years, as declared by ISRO, NISAR's launch underscores India's emergence as a key player in global space technology. Union Minister Jitendra Singh describes the satellite as a 'scientific handshake with the world,' utilizing a unique dual-band Synthetic Aperture Radar with the innovative SweepSAR technique for high-resolution imagery. NISAR's data, offering insights into land and ice deformation and ecosystem changes, will be openly accessible, enhancing global scientific endeavors, particularly for disaster management, climate monitoring, and agriculture.

(With inputs from agencies.)