Nisar's giant reflector fully deployed, commissioning underway in space
The reflector works in tandem with sophisticated radar instruments operating in both L-band (built by Nasa) and S-band (contributed by Isro), enabling the spacecraft to track subtle changes in land surfaces, ice sheets, forests, and coastlines with unprecedented accuracy.'The reflector is the beating heart of this mission,' mission officials said in a statement. 'Its full and safe deployment ensures that Nisar can begin the next phase of testing before science operations commence.' Jointly developed by the Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) and Nasa, Nisar was launched earlier this year onboard India's GSLV Mk-II rocket from Sriharikota. It is the first major collaborative Earth science satellite between the two nations, symbolizing a landmark in international cooperation for climate and disaster monitoring.Over the coming weeks, engineers on the ground will carry out system checks, calibration runs, and instrument tuning to commission the spacecraft for routine science operations. Once fully operational, Nisar will systematically map the entire Earth every 12 days, offering a continuous stream of data critical for understanding phenomena like glacier melting, land subsidence, earthquake faults, and forest health.Experts believe Nisar's radar vision will be especially valuable for monitoring climate-driven changes with global impact, from rising sea levels to agricultural stress.For India, the satellite also holds special promise in disaster management—providing rapid, all-weather imaging that can help track floods and landslides in real-time.With its mega reflector now open to the cosmos, Nisar is closer than ever to becoming the world's most advanced radar eye on Earth, ushering in a new era of planetary monitoring from space.- EndsMust Watch
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The Hindu
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- The Hindu
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