NISAR: A Historic Collaboration Between ISRO and NASA to Monitor Earth’s Changing Ecosystems

ISRO-NASA NISAR: A Global Eye on Earth :

In a powerful demonstration of international cooperation in space science, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) have jointly launched the NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR) mission—an Earth-observing satellite that promises to transform how we understand and monitor our planet’s ever-changing surface. Designed as the first radar imaging satellite to use two different radar frequencies (L-band by NASA and S-band by ISRO), NISAR is equipped to detect minute changes in the Earth’s crust with unmatched accuracy. Its core mission is to observe and provide high-resolution data on a range of Earth phenomena, including glacial movements, land subsidence, forest biomass, agricultural cycles, coastal erosion, landslides, earthquakes, and volcanic activity. By observing the Earth’s surface every 12 days with a wide 240 km swath, NISAR will collect an enormous volume of precise geospatial data, which is expected to be vital for climate change studies, disaster management, natural resource mapping, and global food security monitoring. The mission will also allow scientists to assess the planet’s response to both human and natural disturbances with incredible temporal consistency, offering timely data that can help predict and mitigate environmental risks. Notably, the satellite was assembled using NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) radar systems and ISRO's satellite bus and launch services, underlining a deep technological and strategic partnership between the two nations.

Launched aboard an ISRO GSLV (Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle) from India’s Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, the NISAR satellite signifies more than just a technological marvel—it is a symbol of geopolitical synergy, science diplomacy, and shared commitment to preserving Earth. With a mission duration of at least three years in a near-polar sun-synchronous orbit at 747 km altitude, NISAR will enable researchers and decision-makers across the globe to access an open archive of critical Earth data in near real-time. This will especially benefit disaster-prone regions where early warnings and infrastructure planning can save lives and mitigate economic loss. In addition, NISAR holds immense potential for supporting the goals of the Paris Climate Agreement, as it can provide scientific data needed to measure greenhouse gas impacts and validate environmental policies. The mission is also a major leap forward in democratizing space-based Earth science, with both NASA and ISRO committing to free and open data sharing. As space becomes an increasingly important frontier for addressing terrestrial challenges, NISAR stands as a beacon of what can be achieved when countries pool resources, expertise, and vision for a shared future. Whether it’s mapping the retreat of Himalayan glaciers, monitoring forest degradation in the Amazon, or helping Indian farmers forecast crop yields more accurately, NISAR is poised to change how humanity perceives and protects its only home—planet Earth.

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