NASA-ISRO NISAR Satellite Set to Launch July 30: Real-Time Climate & Disaster Data for the World
The landmark NASA-ISRO NISAR (NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar) satellite is set to launch on July 30, 2025, at 5:40 PM IST from ISRO’s Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota, aboard the GSLV-F16 rocket. This $1.5-billion mission, a decade-long collaboration between NASA and ISRO, promises to revolutionize how the world monitors and responds to natural events with high-resolution, real-time Earth observation data.
What is NISAR?
NISAR is the first Earth-observation satellite built jointly by the US and India, equipped with cutting-edge dual-frequency radar technology—L-band radar from NASA and S-band from ISRO. Weighing 2,392 kg and sporting a 12-meter unfurlable mesh antenna, NISAR will scan almost the entire globe, revisiting every spot every 12 days, regardless of weather or daylight.
Why is NISAR a Game Changer?
- Real-Time Disaster Monitoring: NISAR can spot earthquakes, floods, landslides, volcanic eruptions, and other disasters as they happen, supplying rapid-response data to emergency teams for lifesaving decisions.
- Climate & Ecosystem Tracking: It tracks land deformation, ice melt, glacial shifts, forest loss, wetlands, sea ice, and changing shorelines—key for understanding climate change, sea-level rise, and biodiversity threats.
- Agricultural & Infrastructure Insights: NISAR can help farmers by monitoring soil moisture, crop growth, and land changes and support planners by tracking infrastructure stability in cities, including dams, bridges, and roads.
- Global & Open Access: All data from NISAR will be made openly available to researchers, agencies, and governments, powering everything from scientific studies to day-to-day decision-making worldwide.
Launch & Mission Details
- Launch Date & Time: July 30, 2025, 5:40 PM IST
- Rocket: GSLV-F16, 3-stage vehicle with cryogenic stage
- Orbit: 743 km Sun-synchronous orbit with 98.4° inclination
- Coverage: 242 km swath, high spatial resolution, all-weather, day-and-night
- Mission Life: Designed for at least 3 years of operation
India-US Space Ties
NISAR is a historic symbol of Indo-US collaboration, lauded by President Donald Trump and PM Modi as a model for international partnerships serving both national priorities and the global good.
Conclusion
NISAR will deliver unprecedented, real-time Earth imagery, helping scientists, decision-makers, and communities worldwide respond faster to climate challenges and disasters. Its launch cements India and the US as leaders in space-based Earth observation—and marks a new era of open, actionable climate intelligence.
