NASA-ISRO Satellite Tracks Earth’s Changing Surfaces
NISAR Satellite Begins Crucial Commissioning Phase to Unveil Earth’s Dynamic Secrets
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NASA and ISRO‘s groundbreaking joint mission, NISAR (NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar), is embarking on a vital 90-day commissioning phase following its accomplished launch. This period is critical for deploying its advanced technology and preparing to deliver unprecedented insights into our planet’s ever-changing surface.
A Giant Leap in Earth Observation
At teh heart of NISAR’s mission is its notable 39-foot (12-meter) radar antenna reflector. This elegant component will soon be deployed, acting as the crucial link for the spacecraft’s two powerful radar instruments. By emitting and receiving microwave signals, these radars will paint a detailed picture of Earth’s surface.The magic lies in interpreting the subtle differences between the signals captured by the two radars, allowing scientists to discern intricate details about the terrain below.
What makes NISAR truly revolutionary is its ability to revisit the same locations repeatedly. Passing over these areas twice every 12 days, the mission will enable scientists to meticulously track changes over time. this continuous monitoring will unlock new understandings of dynamic geological processes,from the subtle creep of glaciers to the shifting patterns of land subsidence.
A Partnership Forged in Science
The NISAR mission stands as a testament to the power of international collaboration, representing an equal partnership between NASA and the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).
NASA’s Contributions:
Managed for the agency by caltech, NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) leads the U.S. component of this ambitious project.NASA is responsible for providing the mission’s L-band synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) instrument. Further bolstering the spacecraft’s capabilities, NASA is also supplying the radar reflector antenna, the deployable boom that will unfurl the antenna, a high-rate communication subsystem essential for transmitting vast amounts of science data, GPS receivers for precise positioning, a robust solid-state recorder for data storage, and the critical payload data subsystem.ISRO’s Integral Role:
The Space Applications Center in Ahmedabad, ISRO’s lead center for payload development, is contributing the mission’s S-band SAR instrument. This center is also spearheading the crucial tasks of calibration, data processing, and the development of sophisticated science algorithms designed to achieve the mission’s ambitious scientific objectives.
The U R Rao Satellite Centre in Bengaluru, which leads ISRO’s contributions to the mission, is providing the spacecraft bus – the foundational structure that houses all the scientific instruments and systems. The launch vehicle itself is a product of ISRO’s Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre,with launch services expertly managed by ISRO’s Satish Dhawan Space Centre. Satellite operations will be conducted by ISRO’s Telemetry Tracking and Command Network. the National Remote Sensing Centre in Hyderabad plays a vital role in receiving S-band data, generating operational products, and disseminating this valuable information to the scientific community.
Discover More About NISAR
To delve deeper into the exciting world of the NISAR mission and its potential to transform our understanding of Earth, visit:
https://nisar.jpl.nasa.gov
Media contacts:
Headquarters, Washington
Karen Fox
202-358-1600
karen.c.fox@nasa.gov
Elizabeth Vlock
202-358-1600
elizabeth.a.vlock@nasa.gov
Jet propulsion laboratory, Pasadena, Calif.
Andrew wang
626-379-6874
andrew.wang@jpl.nasa.gov
Jane J. Lee
818-354-0307
jane.j.lee@jpl.nasa.gov