The Launch of the First Joint Satellite of India and the USA

• The NISAR satellite helps track changes on Earth.
• The joint mission of NASA and ISRO launches in the middle of the year.
• The data from the satellite will be used to respond to natural disasters.

NASA

Next week, a new satellite will be launched that will monitor Earth, detecting even the smallest changes on land, in oceans, and on ice sheets, announced the space agencies of India and the USA.

The joint mission of the Indian space agency Isro and NASA will not only assist these countries but also the entire world in preparing for natural disasters.

The NASA-Isro Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR) satellite, weighing 2,392 kg, will be launched at 5:10 PM Indian time (12:40 PM GMT) in the middle of the year from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in southern India.

This satellite is the first of its kind that will observe Earth, utilizing two different radar frequency bands: the L-band from NASA and the S-band from Isro.

NISAR will operate in "sun-synchronous polar orbit," allowing it to pass over the same areas of Earth at regular intervals, observing and mapping changes on the planet's surface. The satellite will revisit the same point every 12 days, detecting changes that may occur only in centimeters.

The collected data will assist in preparing for natural disasters and monitoring the impact of climate change, noted former NASA scientist Mila Mitra.

According to researchers, the Earth's surface is constantly changing due to natural and human factors, and even minor disturbances can have significant effects on the planet.

The satellite will focus on monitoring events such as earthquakes, landslides, volcanic eruptions, and changes driven by human activity, such as agricultural practices and construction.

The launch of NISAR is the result of many years of collaboration between NASA and ISRO, initiated in 2014, and symbolizes strengthened international ties in the field of science and technology.

The satellite plans to launch at 8:10 AM Eastern Time (5:40 PM Indian time) in the middle of the rocket GSLV-F16.

The launch will be broadcast live on NASA platforms.

Tags: USA/Technology/Space