NISAR EARTH OBSERVATION SATELLITE HANDED OVER TO ISRO BY THE US
The NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR) is a true symbol of the civil space collaboration between the United States and India. The mission is a result of eight years of joint development by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). NISAR is a state-of-the-art Earth-observation satellite that will provide unprecedented views of the Earth's dynamic land and ice surfaces.
The
satellite is expected to be launched in January 2024 from the Satish Dhawan
Space Centre into a near-polar orbit. Once in space, NISAR will operate for a
minimum of three years, mapping the entire globe in just 12 days. It will be
the first radar of its kind in space to systematically map the Earth using two
different radar frequencies (L-band and S-band) to measure changes in our
planet's surface less than a centimeter across.
The
NISAR mission has several scientific objectives, including the study of Earth's
dynamic land and ice surfaces, natural hazards, and ecosystem disturbances. The
data obtained from NISAR will help to advance our understanding of Earth system
processes and climate change.
One
of the most significant benefits of the NISAR mission is its ability to help
manage natural disasters such as earthquakes, tsunamis, and volcanic eruptions.
By providing critical information on the changes in the Earth's surface, NISAR
will enable faster response times and better risk assessments. The mission's
data will also be used to improve agriculture management and food security by
providing information about crop growth, soil moisture, and land-use changes.
Infrastructure
monitoring and management will also benefit from NISAR's data. The satellite
will be able to monitor oil spills, urbanization, and deforestation, providing
valuable information for policymakers and government agencies. NISAR's data
will help to monitor and understand the impacts of climate change on the
Earth's land surface, including melting glaciers, sea-level rise, and changes
in carbon storage.
The
NISAR mission is not only significant for its scientific contributions but also
for its impact on the United States and India's space collaboration. The
mission is a reflection of the strong partnership between the two countries and
their shared interest in space exploration and research.
NASA
and ISRO have a long history of collaboration in space research. The two
organizations have partnered on several missions, including the Mars Orbiter
Mission (MOM) and the Chandrayaan-1 lunar mission. The NISAR mission builds on
this legacy of collaboration and marks a significant milestone in the US-India
ties in space collaboration.
The NISAR mission is also significant for its potential impact on the global community. The data obtained from the satellite will be publicly available, enabling researchers and scientists worldwide to study the Earth's dynamic land and ice surfaces. The mission's data will provide valuable insights into Earth system processes and climate change, helping to inform policy decisions and improve our understanding of the planet we call home.
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