NISAR Launch Date: Expected in June 2025 on a GSLV rocket from Satish Dhawan Space Centre. Exact date to be announced.
Mission Overview: Joint NASA-ISRO Earth observation satellite to map the entire Earth’s surface every 12 days.
Objectives: Monitor ecosystem changes, ice sheet dynamics, vegetation patterns, sea level rise, groundwater variation, and track natural hazards. Aims to provide insights into climate change and natural hazards.
Key Feature: High Precision: Will capture changes as small as one centimetre.
Technological Advancement: Uses dual-frequency radar (L-band from NASA, S-band from ISRO) for detailed Earth surface monitoring.
Antenna: Features a 12-metre drum-shaped wire mesh reflector, the largest in space, for enhanced signal focus.
Delay and Upgrade: The mission faced delays due to a key component, the 12-metre antenna, needing improvement. It was shipped back to the US for upgrades.
Upcoming ISRO Missions: EOS-09 (Earth Observation Satellite) and Gaganyaan TV-D2 Mission (Crew Escape System test) are scheduled before NISAR.
