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Shubhanshu Shukla returns from ISS: Moment Dragon spacecraft splashes down in Pacific Ocean
The Axiom-4 mission crew, which includes ISRO's Shubhanshu Shukla made a successful splashdown off California coast in the Pacific ocean at 3:01 PM.
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India.com
2 hours ago
- India.com
ISRO-NASA Joint Satellite NISAR Set For Launch On July 30 From Sriharikota
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) on Sunday stated that the upcoming launch of NISAR, the first joint Earth observation satellite by ISRO and NASA, will mark a key milestone in Earth observation technology. NISAR will be launched from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh, on July 30 at 17:40 IST. NISAR is the first mission of its kind, jointly developed by ISRO and NASA. It is an L- and S-band, global, microwave imaging mission, with the capability to acquire fully polarimetric and interferometric data, as per an official statement from ISRO. The unique dual-band Synthetic Aperture Radar of NISAR employs the advanced, novel SweepSAR technique, which provides high-resolution and large-swath imagery. NISAR will image the global land and ice-covered surfaces, including islands, sea-ice and selected oceans, every 12 days. The NISAR mission's primary objectives are to study land & ice deformation, land ecosystems, and oceanic regions in areas of common interest to the US and Indian science communities. The joint mission will accomplish multiple tasks, including measuring the woody biomass and its changes, tracking changes in the extent of active crops, understanding the changes in wetlands' extent, and mapping Greenland & Antarctica's ice sheets and the dynamics of sea ice and mountain glaciers. As per the statement, it will also help characterise land surface deformation related to seismicity, volcanism, landslides, and subsidence & uplift associated with changes in subsurface aquifers, hydrocarbon reservoirs, etc. "One mission to watch Earth. #ISRO #NASA builds, Earth benefits. This marks a key milestone in Earth observation technology. Stay tuned as we bring you closer to the mission that watches our world," ISRO said in a post on X. "The Spacecraft is built around ISRO's I-3K Structure. It carries two major Payloads viz., L & S- Band Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR). The S-band Radar system, data handling & high-speed downlink system, the spacecraft and the launch system are developed by ISRO. The L-band Radar system, the high-speed downlink system, the Solid-State Recorder, the GPS receiver, and the 9 m Boom hoisting the 12m reflector are delivered by NASA. Further, ISRO takes care of the satellite commanding and operations; NASA will provide the orbit manoeuvre plan and RADAR operations plan. NISAR mission will be aided with ground station support from both ISRO and NASA for downloading of the acquired images, which, after the necessary processing, will be disseminated to the user community," the statement added. The data acquired through S-band and L-band SAR from a single platform will help scientists understand the changes happening to Planet Earth. The complex payloads and mainframe systems have been designed, developed, qualified and realised over a period of 8 to 10 years. "The S- Band SAR and L- Band SAR were independently developed, integrated and tested at ISRO and JPL/NASA respectively. The Integrated Radar Instrument Structure (IRIS), consisting of S - Band and L - Band SAR and other payload elements were intergrated and tested at JPL/NASA and delivered to ISRO," it stated. Mainframe satellite elements and payloads were assembled, integrated and tested at URSC/ISRO. The mission phases can be broadly classified into: Launch phase, Deployment Phase, Commissioning Phase and Science Phase. NISAR will be launched onboard the GSLV-F16 launch vehicle on July 30, 2025 from ISRO's Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC), also referred to as Sriharikota High Altitude Range (SHAR), located in Sriharikota on the southeast coast of the Indian peninsula. It hosts a 12m dia large reflector which shall be deployed in-orbit 9m away from the satellite by a complex multistage deployable boom designed and developed by JPL/NASA. The first 90 days after launch will be dedicated to commissioning, or In-Orbit Checkout (IOC), the objective of which is to prepare the observatory for science operations. Commissioning is divided into sub-phases of initial checks and calibrations of mainframe elements followed by JPL engineering payload and instrument checkout. The science operations phase begins at the end of commissioning and extends till end of mission life. During this phase, the science orbit will be maintained via regular maneuvers, scheduled to avoid or minimize conflicts with science observations. Extensive calibration and validation (CalVal) activities will take place. The observation plan for both L and S-band instruments, along with engineering activities (e.g., maneuvers, parameter updates, etc.), will be generated pre-launch via frequent coordination between JPL and ISRO, the statement added.
New Indian Express
3 hours ago
- New Indian Express
India–US ‘scientific handshake' to track disasters, climate via NISAR satellite
NEW DELHI: A couple of days ahead of the launch of the NISAR satellite, Union Minister for Space Dr Jitendra Singh on Sunday described the mission as a "scientific handshake". 'NISAR is not just a satellite; it is India's scientific handshake with the world,' Dr Singh remarked, adding that the NISAR satellite is scheduled for launch on 30 July from Sriharikota. During a media briefing, Dr Singh explained that NISAR is designed to deliver critical global data related to natural disasters, agriculture, and climate for the benefit of the entire world. Calling it a global benchmark in Indo-US scientific collaboration, he emphasised that, as the first joint Earth observation mission between ISRO and NASA, the launch will mark a significant milestone in the history of Indo-US space cooperation, as well as in ISRO's broader international engagements. He further stated that the mission will be launched aboard India's GSLV-F16 rocket. The NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR) satellite will provide observations that will be made available to policymakers worldwide, aiding in the formulation of more effective responses to challenges posed by climate change. Dr Singh said the mission embodies Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of India becoming a 'Vishwa Bandhu' – a global partner contributing to the collective good of humanity. 'NISAR will not only serve India and the United States but will also provide critical data for countries around the world, especially in areas like disaster management, agriculture, and climate monitoring,' he said. A key feature of the mission, Dr Singh noted, is that all data generated by NISAR will be freely accessible within one to two days of observation, and in near real-time during emergencies. He said the mission combines the technological expertise of both space agencies. ISRO, for its part, has contributed the S-Band SAR payload, the spacecraft bus accommodating both payloads, the GSLV-F16 launch vehicle, and all associated launch services. Weighing 2,392 kg, the satellite will be placed in a sun-synchronous orbit, enabling repeat imaging of the Earth's land and ice surfaces every 12 days. 'It will allow continuous monitoring of ecosystem disturbances and help assess natural hazards such as earthquakes, tsunamis, volcanic eruptions, and landslides,' Dr Singh said. One of the satellite's most notable capabilities is its ability to track even subtle changes in the Earth's crust and surface movement. 'The data from the satellite will also be used for sea ice classification, ship detection, shoreline monitoring, storm tracking, crop mapping, and changes in soil moisture – all of which are vital for governments, researchers, and disaster management agencies,' he added.
The Hindu
3 hours ago
- The Hindu
Kalam's rise in life is a lesson for the nation, says ISRO chairman V. Narayanan
'From a paper delivery boy, late President APJ Abdul Kalam rose to become a nuclear scientist and missile man of India,' said V. Narayanan, Chairman, Indian Space Research Organisation, here on Sunday. His remarks came on the occasion of the 10th Remembrance Day of Kalam. Mr. Narayanan said the prestigious Bharat Ratna award was not simply conferred on Kalam, but earned by the late President through his sincere hard work. Tracing his journey, he said the year 1969, when Kalam joined ISRO, was the same year when Neil Armstrong landed on the moon. ISRO was at its nascent stage, when NASA was trying out various space projects. 'But we can proudly say that India, which began taking baby steps when America completed its space mission, is now looked upon by the world due to its space projects. Speaking about the situation at the time of Independence, he said about 97.5% of the population was in Below Poverty Line (BPL) category, and the average person's life expectancy was 32 years. 'It has increased now to 72 years, which shows our desire and will in developing our country.' The people's dreams at the time of Independence made the impossible possible. Kalam's rise from a village boy to one of the important personalities in the country was one such dream. It was not just his dream, but his country's dream. 'Kalam's success gave courage and lessons to many people like me to dream big and think big. If not for him, many of us would have just dreamt of distant targets,' he added. The book Wings of Fire, penned by Kalam, was the important reason for completing his Ph.D degree, which became one of the important technologies to operate the rockets of ISRO. The life lessons of Kalam should be taken seriously by students to not just work for themselves but also for their country, he added. 'The upcoming launch of NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar [NISAR] satellite from India is one such example the students should watch closely,' he further said. Mr. Narayanan paid tributes to Kalam's memorial at Peikarumbu near Rameswaram. Collector Simranjeet Singh Kahlon also paid his respects at the memorial.
