NISAR Satellite: Monitoring Earth Changes

India and the United States have together developed a powerful satellite called NISAR to monitor the Earth from space. It was launched by India on the GSLV-F16 rocket from Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh. The satellite is now safely in orbit and is expected to operate for the next five years.

WHAT IS NISAR?

• NISAR stands for NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar.
• It is the first satellite built jointly by India (ISRO) and the United States (NASA).
• It is specially designed to study changes happening on Earth's surface and beneath, such as:
  • Earthquakes
  • Floods
  • Landslides
  • Melting glaciers
  • Changes in farmland and forests

HOW WILL NISAR WORK?

Two Radars, One Satellite

• It has two powerful radars:
  • NASA’s L-band radar for deep Earth monitoring
  • ISRO’s S-band radar for surface monitoring
• This combination allows observation of both the top surface and what lies beneath.

Very Clear View

• Can see a wide area of 242 km at once
• Detects small changes between 3 to 10 metres
• Special scanning method provides clear images during:
  • Night
  • Cloudy weather
  • Smoke or haze

Data Every 12 Days

• Photographs and measurements of the same location will be taken every 12 days
• This allows scientists to monitor changes regularly

WHAT IS IT USEFUL FOR?

• Disaster Warning & Response: Identifies risk areas for floods, landslides, or earthquakes and helps in rapid disaster response.
• Agriculture: Monitors crop health and soil water content, aiding farmers and planning.
• Climate & Environment: Measures glacier melting, forest changes, and rising sea levels.
• City Planning & Infrastructure: Tracks slow land movements affecting buildings, roads, and bridges.
• Coastal Safety: Studies shoreline changes and storm impacts.

WHO DID WHAT?

• NASA (USA): Developed the large radar, engineering systems, and part of the radar technology.
• ISRO (India): Built the satellite structure, solar panels, S-band radar, and launched the satellite.

LAUNCH AND NEXT STEPS

• Launched on the GSLV-F16 rocket.
• It will take about 10 days post-launch for the 12-metre antenna to deploy in space.
• Scientists will then perform checks during the commissioning phase.
• After commissioning, it will begin full-time monitoring for the next five years.

QUOTE FOR FUTURE CIVIL SERVANTS

“True progress begins when we look at the Earth not just from the ground, but from space—with purpose, precision, and public service in mind.”