NISAR Satellite to Become Operational
- 06 Nov 2025
On 5th November 2025, ISRO Chairman V. Narayanan announced that the NASA–ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR) satellite — the most expensive Earth observation satellite ever built — will be declared operational on 7th November 2025.
Key Points
- Satellite Overview: The 2,400 kg NISAR satellite was launched on 30th July, 2025, from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC), Sriharikota, aboard the GSLV-F16 rocket. It is jointly developed by NASA and ISRO to enhance Earth observation capabilities.
- Operational Status: Data calibration has been successfully completed, and the satellite will be officially declared operational during the Emerging Science, Technology and Innovation Conclave (ESTIC).
- Dual Radar System: NISAR is the first satellite to carry two Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) systems — the L-Band and S-Band sensors.
- L-Band Radar: Can penetrate forest canopies to measure soil moisture, forest biomass, and the motion of land and ice surfaces.
- S-Band Radar: More sensitive to small vegetation, useful for studying agriculture, grassland ecosystems, and snow moisture.
- Global Coverage: The satellite can monitor most of the Earth’s land and ice surfaces twice every 12 days, providing high-quality data under all-weather and day-night conditions.
- Scientific Significance: The mission will play a vital role in studying climate change, land deformation, and natural disasters, offering critical insights for sustainable Earth management.
