PROJECT NISAR: The Landmark India-US Earth Watch Mission Launches Today!
India and the United States have taken a monumental leap for global science and diplomacy with the launch of NISAR (NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar), scheduled for July 30, 2025. This groundbreaking satellite is the first major Earth science mission developed jointly by ISRO and NASA, blending cutting-edge technology and the shared spirit of two spacefaring nations.
What is NISAR?
NISAR is a revolutionary Earth observation satellite designed to scan 90 percent of the planet’s surface every 12 days, mapping environmental changes with incredible precision. Weighing about 2,400 kg, it is one of the heaviest remote-sensing satellites and is launching on India’s GSLV Mk II from Sriharikota.
Mission Overview
- Name: NISAR (NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar)
- Launch Date: July 30, 2025
- Launch Vehicle: GSLV Mk II
- Launch Site: Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota, India
- Orbit: 743 km Sun-synchronous polar orbit
- Expected Mission Life: Minimum 3 years
- Weight: Around 2,400 kg
Tech Highlights: Radar Revolution
NISAR boast the world’s first dual-band radar imaging system, a giant step for remote sensing.
- L-band Radar by NASA: Penetrates forests, ice, and even below soil to catch deep-seated changes.
- S-band Radar by ISRO: Detects subtle, surface-level shifts and both natural and human-made changes.
This technology delivers high-resolution images and reveals changes often too small to see with the naked eye, and works day or night, regardless of weather.
What Will NISAR Monitor?
NISAR will track many critical Earth processes, such as:
- Earthquakes, volcanoes, tectonic shifts
- Melting glaciers, movements of polar ice, rising sea levels
- Deforestation, forest carbon loss, green cover changes
- Soil moisture, crop stress, farming productivity
- Floods, coastal erosion, landslides, wildfires and other climate impacts
By capturing these indicators, NISAR will deliver vital early warnings, support farmers, guide policymakers, and empower scientists worldwide.
Why Does NISAR Matter?
- Faster disaster response: Earlier flood, landslide and earthquake alerts
- Climate and environment: Monitoring climate change, ecosystem health, deforestation and melting glaciers
- Farming and water: Aiding sustainable water management and crop planning
- Open science: NISAR data will be available to all, sparking global research and innovation
- Space diplomacy: Symbolizes “Earth First” teamwork between India and the USA
NISAR is not just a technical breakthrough—it’s a milestone in friendship, global citizenship and a pledge to protect our planet’s future.
As the satellite orbits above, it will connect nations and communities with data, innovation and trust.
PROJECT NISAR equals Innovation, Global Unity, Earth First
Stay tuned as this new era of space collaboration takes off. NISAR will not only watch our changing world but help us protect it.
