Manas Dasgupta
NEW DELHI, July 30: In a major step forward in India–US space collaboration, the two countries together launched the NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR) satellite with a Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV) from Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota on Wednesday.
The Earth observation satellite, jointly developed by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), was launched aboard the GSLV-F16 rocket from the second launch pad at 5:40 pm IST.
ISRO’s GSLV F-16 injected NISAR — NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR) satellite, into the intended Sun Synchronous Polar Orbit (SSPO), after a flight of about 19 minutes and around 745 km. GSLV “successfully injected NISAR in designated orbit,” ISRO said.
The launch marked a significant moment in space science and diplomacy, with NISAR aiming to provide high-resolution data on changes in the Earth’s land, ice, and oceans. Weighing 2,393 kg, NISAR will operate in a Sun-synchronous polar orbit and use dual-frequency radar systems to study natural processes such as glacier movements, deforestation, coastline changes, and earthquakes. The satellite is expected to help scientists monitor climate change, disaster response, and agriculture patterns across the globe.
Shortly after the lift-off, Union Minister of Science and Technology Jitendra Singh took to X, calling the successful launch of GSLV-F16 carrying the world’s first dual-band radar satellite NISAR a “game changer” for disaster management. “Proud to be associated with the Department of Space at a time when Team @isro is registering one global milestone after the other, under the supportive patronage of PM @narendramodi,” Singh added.
This is the first time a GSLV rocket has carried a satellite into a Sun-synchronous orbit, typically handled by Polar Satellite Launch Vehicles (PSLVs). ISRO said this mission was the result of over a decade of collaboration, involving the exchange of technology, hardware, and expertise between the two space agencies.
The NISAR satellite is equipped with two radar bands: L-Band provided by NASA and S-Band developed by ISRO. Together, these enable the use of SweepSAR technology, allowing the satellite to produce high-resolution images every 12 days, covering land, ice, and ocean surfaces.
Following the successful launch, the mission now enters its commissioning phase. ISRO had said the first 90 days will be dedicated to In-Orbit Checkout, during which the systems on-board the satellite will be tested and prepared for science operations.
ISRO built the spacecraft and launch system, while NASA provided critical instruments including the L-band radar, high-speed data link, and GPS receiver. NASA will also support orbit manoeuvres and radar operations, while both agencies will operate ground stations to receive and process the satellite data.
NISAR is the 18th flight of a GSLV rocket and the 12th using an indigenous cryogenic upper stage. It is also the 102nd launch from Sriharikota. The mission is expected to have an operational life of five years. ISRO said NISAR would serve as a valuable resource for the global scientific community, offering detailed insights into Earth’s dynamic systems.
The NISAR satellite will scan the Earth and provide all-weather, day-and-night data at 12-day intervals, and enable a wide range of applications. NISAR mission’s primary objectives are to study land and ice deformation, land ecosystems, and oceanic regions in areas of common interest to the United States and Indian science communities.
Soon after the launch, Mr Singh said, “Congratulations India! Successful launch of GSLV-F16 carrying the world’s first dual-band radar satellite NISAR…a game changer in precise management of disasters like cyclones, floods, etc.” “Also, its capacity to penetrate through fogs, dense clouds, ice layers, etc., makes it a path breaking enabler for the aviation and shipping sectors. The inputs from NISAR will benefit the entire world community…in the true spirit of ‘Vishwabandhu’,” he added.
“The GSLV-F16 vehicle has successfully and precisely injected the NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR) satellite weighing 2,393 kg into its intended orbit,” announced Dr V. Narayanan, Secretary of the Department of Space and Chairperson of ISRO. “All the vehicle systems were quite normal as expected and as predicted,” he noted.
The NISAR successful launch mission “demonstrated an international teamwork” between two space agencies and the data collection by NISAR will be “useful for scientific communities of the globe,” Dr Narayanan said.