A new Earth-monitoring satellite, Nisar, has successfully launched from southern India, marking a historic collaboration between the United States and India. The mission, which lifted off from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre on Wednesday, carries the most advanced radar system ever built by NASA. It is designed to track tiny changes on our planet’s surface, offering critical data on climate change, natural disasters, and tectonic plate movements.
A Landmark Partnership in Space
The Nisar mission is the culmination of a decade of cooperation between NASA and the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). This $1.5 billion project was largely developed through virtual collaboration between engineers thousands of miles apart, much of it happening during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The responsibilities were clearly divided between the two space agencies. India supplied the S-band radar, the launch vehicle, and the launch site, while the US contributed the L-band radar and the satellite’s main body. This partnership combines the strengths of both nations to create a truly unique observatory in space.
Karen St Germain, NASA’s Earth Sciences Director, who attended the launch, described the project as “the most sophisticated radar we’ve ever built.” This statement holds significant weight, considering NASA already operates over two dozen Earth-observing satellites.
| Mission Name | Nisar (NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar) |
| Launch Date | Wednesday, 17:40 IST |
| Launch Site | Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota, India |
| Total Cost | $1.5 billion |
| Orbit Type | Sun-synchronous |
What Makes Nisar a Game-Changer?
Nisar’s power lies in its unique dual-frequency radar system. It is the first satellite ever to use both L-band and S-band synthetic aperture radar, giving it an unparalleled ability to see through clouds and operate day or night. This technology allows it to detect surface changes as small as a few centimeters.
The satellite will orbit Earth every 12 days, providing a consistent and rapid flow of data. This revisit period is crucial for tracking dynamic processes like the shifting of earthquake fault lines, the melting of glaciers, or the subsidence of land due to groundwater removal.
Here are some of the key areas Nisar will monitor:
- Ice sheet melting in Greenland and Antarctica
- Changes in forest biomass and tracking deforestation
- Land subsidence and groundwater levels
- Coastal erosion and the effects of sea-level rise
- Precursor activity for earthquakes and volcanic eruptions
The data collected will not just be for scientists. It has practical applications for disaster management, agriculture, and infrastructure monitoring, providing early warnings and helping communities prepare for hazards.
More than Science: A Satellite to Save Lives
ISRO Chairman V Narayanan highlighted the satellite’s humanitarian potential, calling Nisar a “life-saving satellite.” He explained that its high-resolution scans could provide crucial warnings about impending landslides, volcanoes, and other natural hazards, particularly in vulnerable regions of South Asia and Africa.
A key feature of the Nisar mission is its open-data policy. All the data collected by the satellite will be made freely available to the public and the global scientific community. Narayanan referred to this as a “gift,” ensuring that researchers, governments, and organizations worldwide can use the information to make informed decisions.
This collaborative spirit was echoed by Indian Science Minister Jitendra Singh, who called the mission a “scientific handshake with the world.”
A Stepping Stone in India’s Grand Space Vision
The successful launch of Nisar comes at a time of great momentum for ISRO. It follows the historic landing on the Moon’s south pole in 2023 and the launch of the Aditya-L1 solar observatory. These missions are part of a broader, ambitious roadmap for India’s space program.
This roadmap includes sending humans into space with the Gaganyaan mission by 2027, establishing a domestic space station by 2035, and landing an Indian astronaut on the Moon by 2040. Nisar is a significant piece of this larger puzzle, demonstrating India’s growing capabilities and its role as a key partner in international space exploration and research.
What Happens Next for Nisar?
Although Nisar is now in orbit, its work has just begun. The satellite is not yet fully operational. Engineers on the ground will now begin a critical 90-day phase of deployment and calibration.
During this period, the team will run diagnostic checks, carefully align the dual-band radar system, and establish stable communication protocols with ground stations in both India and the US. Only after this meticulous setup process is complete will Nisar begin its scientific mission of recording data. This slow and steady ramp-up will ensure the powerful instrument is ready to unlock a new understanding of our home planet.
