Description

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Picture Courtesy: MALAYALAMTV9

Context

ISRO launched the NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR) satellite from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre, in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh.

NISAR Mission

It is the first joint mission of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).

The 2,392-kg NISAR satellite will be carried into orbit by ISRO's powerful Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV-F16).

NISAR's Unique Technology

Dual-Frequency Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) => First satellite globally to use a dual-frequency SAR system; carries two types of radar: L-band and S-band.

This dual-frequency approach allows NISAR to penetrate through clouds and vegetation, providing continuous, all-weather, day-and-night data.
L-band Radar (NASA) => Studying long-term changes, such as ground deformation caused by earthquakes, volcanic activity, or landslides. It can also penetrate forest canopies to study biomass.
S-band Radar (ISRO) => Ideal for monitoring agricultural crops, forest cover, and surface water bodies, particularly sensitive to changes in soil moisture and vegetation.

SweepSAR Technology => Allows to image a wide region (over 240 kilometers) with high resolution. It can image the entire Earth every 12 days.

GSLV-F16 => India's Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV) Mark II, specifically the GSLV-F16, is the rocket that carried NISAR. It is the first time a GSLV has launched a satellite into a Sun-Synchronous Polar Orbit.

Orbit & Mission Life => NISAR orbits Earth at an altitude of 747 kilometers in a Sun-Synchronous Orbit.

This orbit ensures the satellite passes over specific locations at roughly the same local time, which is crucial for consistent data collection.
The mission plans for five years of data collection.

How will NISAR help India and the World?

Disaster Management => By detecting small shifts in the Earth's surface, NISAR can provide early warnings for potential earthquakes and landslides, helping relief agencies know where to send aid.

Climate Change Monitoring => NISAR tracks how ice sheets and glaciers are moving and melting, which directly impacts rising sea levels.

Monitors changes in forests and other plant life, helping to understand the carbon cycle and how well ecosystems are doing.

Resource Mapping & Management => Information related to Soil Moisture, Surface Water Resources will help farmers make better decisions about irrigation and crop planning.

All data from NISAR will be freely available one to two days after observation and within hours in case of emergencies like natural disasters.

Must Read Articles:

NISAR joint mission between NASA and ISRO

GSLV-F14/INSAT-3DS

Source: THE HINDU

PRACTICE QUESTION

Q. Consider the following statements in the context of the NISAR mission:

1. It is a joint Earth-observation mission between India and Russia.

2. The data collected by NISAR will be freely available globally.

Which of the above statements is/are correct?

A) 1 only

B) 2 only

C) Both 1 and 2

D) Neither 1 nor 2

Answer: B

Statement 1 is incorrect: NISAR is a joint mission between NASA (USA) and ISRO (India).

Statement 2 is correct: NISAR's open data policy ensures its data will be freely accessible worldwide.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

The NISAR mission aims to observe Earth's changing ecosystems, ice masses, and dynamic land surface to understand natural processes and climate change.

The NISAR project is a joint Earth-observing mission between NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) of the USA and ISRO (Indian Space Research Organisation) of India.

NISAR is unique because it's the first satellite to use a dual-frequency Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) – L-band and S-band – for Earth observation.