US, India unveil high‑powered Earth‑monitoring satellite
NISAR: A New Era in Earth Observation
On July 29, 2025, a NASA image captured the NISAR satellite, the result of a joint effort by the United States and India that promises unprecedented insight into the planet’s surface.
Mission Objectives
- Detect minute shifts in terrain—down to 1 cm—to forecast earthquakes, landslides, and volcanic eruptions.
- Monitor the deformation of glaciers in Greenland and Antarctica.
- Gather data on critical infrastructure such as dams and bridges.
Launch Details
The pickup‑truck‑sized craft will lift off at 5:40 pm (12:10 GMT) from Satish Dhawan Space Centre, propelled by an ISRO Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV) rocket.
Technology Overview
NISAR’s 12‑meter dish unfolds in space, enabling the satellite to scan nearly all terrestrial and ice surfaces every 12 days from an altitude of 464 miles (747 km).
Microwave Interaction
As the satellite orbits, it continuously emits microwaves and records their echoes from the surface. Because the craft moves, the echo signals are distorted; advanced processing reconstructs them into high‑resolution images that would otherwise require an impractically large 12‑mile‑wide dish.
Dual‑Frequency Radar
- L‑band: ideal for sensing taller vegetation such as trees.
- S‑band: provides more accurate readings of shorter plants like bushes and shrubs.
International Collaboration
The project involved shared responsibilities. NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory oversaw components on one side of the globe, while India’s ISRO handled the opposite. Integration and testing occurred at ISRO’s Satellite Integration & Testing Establishment in Bengaluru.
Financial Commitment
- NASA: under $1.2 billion
- ISRO: approximately $90 million
India’s Growing Space Capabilities
Recent years have seen India’s space program achieve milestone successes:
- 2014: Mars orbital probe.
- 2023: Lunar robot and rover landing.
- 2026: Shubhanshu Shukla became the second Indian to travel to space.
India’s Gaganyaan programme, slated for 2027, will be the country’s first indigenous crewed mission to the International Space Station.
Expert Perspective
“Our planet’s surface undergoes constant and meaningful change,” said Karen St Germain, director of NASA’s Earth Science division. “By detecting subtle changes—down to a centimeter—scientists will be able to anticipate both natural and human‑caused hazards.”
St Germain added that NISAR will reveal “land substance, swelling, movement, deformation, and melting of mountain glaciers and ice sheets covering both Greenland and Antarctica, and, of course, we’ll see wildfires.” She described NISAR as “the most sophisticated radar we’ve ever built.”
