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NISAR Satellite Launch Announcement

New Delhi: The first jointly developed satellite by NASA and ISRO, known as NISAR, is set to be declared operational this Friday, according to ISRO chairman V Narayanan's announcement on Wednesday.

The NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR) is touted as the most costly Earth observation satellite ever constructed, capable of monitoring the majority of the Earth's land and ice surfaces twice within a 12-day period.

Weighing 2,400 kg, the NISAR satellite was successfully launched on July 30 from ISRO's Satish Dhawan Space Centre using the GSLV rocket.

Narayanan mentioned that all data calibration has been finalized, and a conclave is scheduled for November 7 to officially declare the satellite operational during the Emerging Science, Technology and Innovation Conclave (ESTIC).

This mission is unique as it carries two types of Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) systems: the L-Band and S-Band sensors.

The L-band radar is designed to penetrate forest canopies, allowing it to measure soil moisture, forest biomass, and the movement of land and ice surfaces.

Conversely, the S-band radar is adept at detecting small vegetation and can monitor specific agricultural types, grassland ecosystems, and snow moisture. Both radar systems can gather data regardless of weather conditions, day or night.

Narayanan expressed confidence in the satellite's capabilities, stating, "The data is exceptional. The Earth can be scanned every 12 days, making this satellite incredibly valuable."

Additionally, he revealed that the first uncrewed mission of the Gaganyaan project, India's human spaceflight initiative, is anticipated to occur in January, with plans to send astronauts into space aboard a domestically developed rocket by 2027.

So far, over 8,000 tests have been conducted for the Gaganyaan mission, with ISRO planning three uncrewed missions before launching astronauts into orbit.

Narayanan also shared that India aims to launch the first module of the Bhartiya Antariksh Station by 2028, with the goal of having a fully operational five-module orbital lab by 2035.

The Indian space station will be a 52-ton facility capable of accommodating three to four crew members for extended periods and up to six members for shorter missions.