
Auroras in Ladakh: Astronomers reveal how solar blast lit up Indian skies
'This was a unique sequence of six interacting CMEs, associated with solar flares and filament eruptions, all originating from a hyperactive region on the Sun,' explained Dr. Wageesh Mishra, a faculty member at IIA.Using data from space-based observatories run by NASA and ESA, scientists at IIA's Indian Astronomical Observatory in Hanle, Ladakh, developed advanced models to trace both the path and thermal behavior of these solar storms as they travelled across the solar system.Their study, published in Astronomy and Astrophysics, provides the first continuous thermal profile of multiple interacting solar blasts.Lead author and doctoral scholar Soumyaranjan Khuntia explained, 'Initially, the CMEs released heat, but as they travelled further, they began to absorb and retain heat, settling into a nearly constant temperature state—a surprising and complex behaviour.' Closer to Earth, instruments like NASA's Wind spacecraft detected another anomaly: the final solar cloud carried twin magnetic structures, or 'double flux ropes,' resembling twisted braids of magnetic fields. These interacted in unusual ways, giving rise to the captivating auroras seen in Ladakh.'This work lays the foundation for a new frontier in space weather forecasting,' added Anjali Agarwal, a co-author of the study. With India's Aditya-L1 solar mission now operational, the team hopes to further refine their models using close-range solar data and observations closer to Earth.According to Dr. Mishra, 'India is well on its way to becoming a powerhouse in heliophysics research, helping us prepare for and predict future space weather disturbances that can affect Earth's technology and daily life.'- EndsTrending Reel
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News18
41 minutes ago
- News18
NISAR Satellite Will Monitor Earth Like Never Before, Says NASA As India Prepares For Lift-Off
Last Updated: Equipped with dual-frequency radar and the largest-ever antenna ever deployed in space, NISAR is the most expensive earth-observation satellite ever built, at $1.5 billion. At 5:40 pm on July 30, India's heaviest rocket GSLV, will lift off from Sriharikota carrying the most sophisticated radar satellite ever built. The 2393-kg satellite developed at a cost of $1.5 billion, marks the culmination of a decade of hard-work by scientists from NASA and ISRO who persevered through the pandemic to bring the mission to fruition. 'Everything looks good. The rocket is set. The weather is fine. We are ready to go," said Phil Barela, NISAR Project Manager from Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in the pre-launch briefing 48 hours before the lift-off. A team of scientists from NASA-JPL is currently in India working closely with ISRO scientists, as the much-anticipated Indo-US satellite mission gears up for take-off. The much-anticipated NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR) is one of the biggest Indo-US satellite missions – that will provide a three-dimensional view of Earth in unprecedented detail. The first-of-its-kind satellite will scan nearly all the Earth's land and ice surfaces twice every 12 days, observing changes as small as a centimeter with high-resolution imagery, collecting earth observation like no other NASA satellite before it. 'We already have over two dozen missions in orbit observing Earth, but NISAR is a groundbreaking mission. It will advance our understanding significantly, with the ability to detect changes as small as a centimetre – regardless of the weather conditions. It has brought India and the US together to study Earth like never before," said Karen St Germain, Director of Earth science at NASA on Monday. The satellite will provide a detailed record of how Earth's land and oceans are changing over time – boosting climate research. The data will help scientists see the precursors to natural hazards like landslides, earthquakes and volcanoes to aid in disaster warnings and preparedness. The satellite worth $1.5 billion with NASA accounting for roughly $1.2 billion is one of the most expensive earth-imaging satellites ever built. While NASA has contributed the L-band Synthetic Aperture Radar – a high-rate telecommunication subsystem, GPS receivers and a deployable 12-meter unfurlable antenna. ISRO, on its part has provided the S-band SAR payload, the spacecraft bus to accommodate both payloads, the GSLV rocket and all associated launch services. The spacecraft will bounce microwave signals off Earth's surface and receive the return signals on a radar antenna reflector measuring 12 meters. Result – about 80 terabytes of data products per day over the course of NISAR's prime mission. The information will be processed, stored and distributed via the cloud – freely accessible to all. 'Any process that moves the land – even by just a few millimeters – NISAR will observe. No other Earth-monitoring mission offers this level of detail and frequency," noted Gerald Bawden, NISAR Program Scientist at NASA. view comments First Published: July 29, 2025, 12:35 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.


Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Isro set for major milestone in earth observation with NISAR, an India-Nasa joint mission
ISRO is preparing to launch the NISAR satellite, a joint Earth observation mission with NASA, on July 30. The satellite, equipped with dual-frequency radar, will provide global data accessible to all, monitoring environmental changes and supporting various sectors. This five-year mission marks a significant collaboration, enhancing global understanding and management of our planet. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Global relevance Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads All-corner coverage Multi-sectoral impact The Indian Space Research Organisation ( ISRO ) is preparing to launch the NISAR satellite, a joint mission with NASA, marking a major milestone in Earth observation and international collaboration. The launch is scheduled for July 30 at 5:40 pm IST from Sriharikota's second launch short for NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar, will be placed into a Sun-Synchronous Polar Orbit aboard India's GSLV-Mk II rocket, designated GSLV-F16. This marks the 18th flight of the Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle and its 9th operational flight using an indigenous cryogenic launch countdown is expected to begin later on Tuesday, news agency PTI reported citing ISRO a significant first, this will be the GSLV's debut mission to a Sun-Synchronous Polar Orbit. The 51.7-metre rocket will lift off from the coastal launch site, around 135 km east of Chennai. Within approximately 19 minutes, the satellite is expected to reach its designated the world watches closely, NISAR is set to not only mark a technological achievement for India, but also shape how we understand and manage our planet in the years NISAR Project Manager and Ground Segment Engineer, Radha Krishna Kavuluru, highlighted the mission's global relevance. Unlike ISRO's earlier observation satellites -- such as the Resourcesat and RISAT series, which primarily served India and nearby regions -- NISAR is designed for worldwide operational satellite will carry dual-frequency radar systems, with NASA contributing the L-Band and ISRO the S-Band. Together, they form a high-resolution radar capable of scanning and collecting data from nearly every corner of the Earth, including remote and challenging environments such as Antarctica, the North Pole and deep oceanic emphasised that NISAR data will be freely accessible worldwide. Governments, researchers, and commercial users from all countries are expected to benefit from its findings. The satellite will revisit every location on Earth every 12 days, providing about 2.5 observations per month and 10 in a span of 120 global coverage will enable critical tracking of changes in forests, glaciers, and mountain ranges -- especially in vulnerable regions like the Himalayas and Antarctica. The mission is designed to monitor seasonal changes and long-term environmental shifts with unmatched precision."NISAR is one of the key missions that will receive large-scale operational feedback from across the globe," Kavuluru said, pointing to its expected impact on sectors such as agriculture, disaster response, and environmental also underlined the strategic importance of the collaboration, noting that this is ISRO's first major Earth observation partnership with NASA. 'It's not just about the satellite. It's about technical exchange, joint planning, and building capabilities on both sides,' he of the data processed by ISRO will be made open-source, reinforcing India's role as a contributor to global science and space technology. The mission is slated to last five years.'This is a highly significant, high-value, and ambitious mission for ISRO,' the news agency quoted Kavuluru as saying.


New Indian Express
an hour ago
- New Indian Express
ISRO-NASA satellite NISAR to be launched on July 30
BENGALURU: NASA-ISRO's joint satellite NISAR is all set to be launched on July 30 from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikotta at 5.40 pm using the ISRO's Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV)-F-16. NISAR is the first collaborative satellite developed by NASA and ISRO. It is expected that by the end of 2025, science enthusiasts, government agencies, and citizens will be able to access data on any changes in the Earth's surface and even see the satellite images live. ISRO scientists said the first 90 days after the launch of the satellite will be dedicated to commissioning, also termed as the In-orbit Checkout Stage, where the objective is to prepare the observatory for science operations. This stage is divided into sub-phases to check on calibrations and instruments. The science operations will begin after this. NASA scientists added that the data will be freely available for people to access from NASA and India's National Remote Sensing Agency portals. The NISAR with L and S bands is a global, microwave imaging mission. The unique dual-band Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) will provide high-resolution images every 12 days. It will cover land and ice surfaces, including islands, sea ice and ocean data. NASA scientists said that work on studying and preparing a baseline database of deep-sea information is being done to ensure data obtained from NISAR is better utilised in future.