Prelims – Current events of national and international importance.
Mains (GS III) – Science and Technology- developments and their applications and effects in everyday life.
Why in news?
ISRO Chairman V Narayanan has recently confirmed that the satellite is scheduled for launch in June 2025 from Srihari Kota.
- NISAR – NISAR is the 1st collaboration between NASA and ISRO for a joint Earth observation satellite mission.
- Aim - To deliver exceptionally precise, high-resolution image of Earth's dynamic surface to observe and understand natural processes (solid Earth, ice masses, and ecosystems).
- Launch vehicle – GSLV-F16 rocket.
- Key specification
- Dual-band radar – NISAR uses dual-band radar frequencies (L-band and S-band) to map the Earth's surface.
L-band (25-centimeter wavelength) detects larger features like tree trunks and penetrates vegetation, while S-band (10-centimeter wavelength) detects smaller features like leaves and rough surfaces.
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- Together, they provide comprehensive Earth observations by capturing different aspects of surface features.
- Orbit– Sun-synchronous, low Earth orbit (LEO) at an Altitude of 747 km.
- Repeat cycle – It will scan nearly the entire globe every 12 days.
- Mission life – 3 years.
- Contributions - NASA – It provides the L-band radar, reflector antenna, deployable boom, communication subsystem, GPS receivers, recorder, and data subsystem.
- ISRO – It provides the S-band radar and handles calibration and data processing.
- ISRO is also providing launching service with its GSLV Rocket.
- Significance – Measuring land deformation from earthquakes, landslides, and volcanic activity.
- It will monitor,
- The movement of glaciers and ice sheets
- Forest and wetland changes
- Soil moisture and water resources
- Detecting surface changes with centimeter-level precision through dense clouds and vegetation.
- It provides critical data for both scientific research and disaster management.
- The mission will help us to understand the global carbon cycle.
References
- Business Today| Launch of NISAR Satellite
- Business Today| NISAR Mission
