ISRO & NASA to Launch NISAR Earth Observation Satellite

On 21st July 2025, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) announced that it will launch the NISAR Earth Observation satellite, developed jointly with NASA, aboard the GSLV F16 heavy-lift rocket from Sriharikota on 30th July. The satellite will be placed into a 743 km Sun Synchronous Orbit.

Key Points

First-of-its-Kind Collaboration: NISAR is the first satellite to use dual-frequency Synthetic Aperture Radar—NASA’s L band and ISRO’s S band—for Earth observation.
High-Resolution Earth Scans: The satellite will scan the entire globe every 12 days, providing high-resolution, all-weather, day-and-night data.
Advanced Antenna System: The radars use NASA’s 12-metre unfurlable mesh reflector antenna integrated into ISRO’s satellite structure.
L and S Band Strengths: The L band can penetrate thick forests and vegetation, while the S band offers crystal-clear surface imagery.
SweepSAR Technology: NISAR will be the first to use SweepSAR to detect subtle surface changes such as soil moisture, storm impacts, vegetation health, sea ice shifts, and disaster risk.
Global Environmental Monitoring: It will aid in surface water mapping, storm tracking, and monitoring changes critical for climate and disaster research.