In a landmark moment for India–US space cooperation, the jointly developed NISAR satellite was launched successfully from Sriharikota on Wednesday at 5:40 PM IST aboard ISRO’s GSLV-F16 rocket. This Earth observation satellite, known as the NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar, is designed to provide high-resolution data on changes in Earth’s surface, oceans, and ice.
Weighing 2,393 kg, NISAR uses dual-frequency radar—NASA’s L-band and ISRO’s S-band—to capture detailed, all-weather images every 12 days. It will orbit in a Sun-synchronous polar path, enabling consistent global coverage to monitor glacier shifts, deforestation, coastal erosion, earthquakes, and more.
This launch marked the first time ISRO’s GSLV was used to place a satellite into a Sun-synchronous orbit, a task usually reserved for PSLVs. ISRO emphasized that NISAR is the product of over ten years of collaboration, involving shared tech, hardware, and scientific expertise.
Union Minister Jitendra Singh hailed the launch as a “game changer” in disaster management and global climate monitoring, celebrating ISRO’s ongoing global achievements under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership.
The satellite is now in its commissioning phase. ISRO will spend the first 90 days performing system checks and calibrations before beginning science operations. NASA, besides contributing critical components like the L-band radar and data systems, will also assist in orbit manoeuvres and radar functionality.
With an expected operational life of five years, NISAR will support climate research, agriculture planning, and emergency response on a global scale.