NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR) satellite launch

India and the U.S. have achieved a significant milestone in their space collaboration with the successful launch of the NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR) satellite. On July 30, 2025, ISRO’s Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV) F-16 successfully placed the 2,392-kg NISAR satellite into its intended Sun Synchronous Polar Orbit (SSPO).

Key details of the mission:

• Launch Details: The GSLV-F16 rocket lifted off from the second launch pad of the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota at 5:40 p.m. IST. After a flight of approximately 19 minutes, it injected the NISAR satellite into an orbit around 745 km (743-747 km as per various reports) above Earth. This marks the 18th flight of the GSLV and the 12th with its indigenous cryogenic stage. Notably, it is the first time a GSLV has launched a satellite into a Sun-Synchronous Polar Orbit.
• Joint Development: NISAR is the first joint satellite developed by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). NASA provided the L-band radar and a 12-meter unfurlable mesh reflector antenna, while ISRO contributed the S-band radar, the modified I3K satellite bus, and the launch vehicle.
• Mission Objectives: The NISAR satellite will scan the Earth day and night, in all weather conditions, providing data at 12-day intervals. Its primary objectives are to:
  • Study land and ice deformation (e.g., earthquakes, landslides, glacial melting).
  • Monitor land ecosystems and forest dynamics (e.g., biodiversity, carbon storage).
  • Observe oceanic regions, including coastal changes and sea-level rise. These studies are of common interest to both the U.S. and Indian science communities.
• Advanced Technology: NISAR is the first satellite to observe the Earth with a dual-frequency Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) – NASA’s L-band and ISRO’s S-band. It utilizes a novel SweepSAR technology for the first time, enabling a wide swath of 242 km and high spatial resolution.
• Mission Life & Applications: The NISAR mission has a life of five years. The data collected will enable a wide range of applications, including:
  • Climate change monitoring (glacier retreat, deforestation).
  • Natural disaster management (early detection of landslides, earthquakes, volcanic activity, floods).
  • Urban development (monitoring land subsidence).
  • Agriculture (crop health, soil moisture analysis, food security).
  • Maritime navigation and coastal management. The data will be freely available globally, promoting international scientific collaboration and decision-making for a safer and more sustainable planet.