Isro likely to launch joint Nisar mission with Nasa by end of July
Nisar's mission is to provide unprecedented coverage of the planet. (Photo: Nasa)
Detailed technical reviews and integration processes are underway, and the leadership is optimistic about an on-schedule liftoff before July closes.NISAR represents the most expensive satellite project undertaken by Isro and Nasa, with a combined cost of $1.5 billion. It is the world's first Earth observation mission to utilise dual-frequency radar technology, blending Nasa's L-band and Isro's S-band systems.After Isro's Geosynchronous Launch Vehicle (GSLV) pushes this $1.5 billion mission into orbit, Nisar will unfold its 13-metre diameter radar antenna like an origami masterpiece to begin a systematic scan of Earth's entire surface.Set to orbit the planet every 12 days, NISAR will offer three-dimensional, centimetre-level mapping of Earth's land and ice surfaces, providing critical data for monitoring ecosystems, natural hazards, and climate impacts.Nisar's mission is to provide unprecedented coverage of the planet. For three years, it will monitor the Earth's land surface and interior for subtle changes due to earthquakes, volcanoes, and human activities; its cryosphere for unprecedented melting of polar ice sheets and glaciers caused by climate change; and its coastal and ground waters for impacts of floods and aquifer usage.
A key highlight of the mission is its commitment to open science. (Photo: Isro)
A key highlight of the mission is its commitment to open science: data collected by NISAR will be made freely available to researchers and governments worldwide, making it a global asset in tracking natural disasters, infrastructure changes, and environmental transformations.With only the comprehensive final reviews left to complete, the anticipation surrounding the NISAR mission is building rapidly.Once launched, NISAR will cement India's role as a frontline player in international space collaboration and Earth science advancement.- EndsMust Watch
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
NDTV
36 minutes ago
- NDTV
NASA To Lose About 20% Of Staff Amid Trump's Federal Workforce Cuts
The US space agency NASA will lose about 3,900 employees under Donald Trump's sweeping effort to trim the federal workforce -- at the same time as the president prioritizes plans for crewed missions to the Moon and Mars. In an emailed statement, NASA said around 3,000 employees took part in the second round of its deferred resignation program, which closed late Friday. Combined with the 870 who joined the first round and regular staff departures, the agency's civil servant workforce is set to drop from more than 18,000 before Trump took office in January to roughly 14,000 -- a more than 20 percent decrease. Those leaving the National Aeronautics and Space Administration on the deferred resignation program will be placed on administrative leave until an agreed departure date. An agency spokesperson said the figures could shift slightly in the coming weeks. "Safety remains a top priority for our agency as we balance the need to become a more streamlined and more efficient organization and work to ensure we remain fully capable of pursuing a Golden Era of exploration and innovation, including to the Moon and Mars," the agency said. Earlier this year, the Trump administration's proposed NASA budget put a return to the Moon and a journey to Mars front and center, slashing science and climate programs. The White House says it wants to focus on "beating China back to the Moon and putting the first human on Mars." China is aiming for its first crewed lunar landing by 2030, while the US program, called Artemis, has faced repeated delays. NASA is still run by an acting administrator after the administration's initial pick to lead the agency, tech billionaire Jared Isaacman -- endorsed by former Trump advisor Elon Musk -- was ultimately rejected by the Republican president.
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Indian intervention ensured safety of Axiom-4 astronauts: Isro chief
Trichy: Indian intervention led to the postponement of the Axiom Mission 4 launch originally scheduled for July 11, ensuring the safety of astronaut Shubanshu Shukla and three others, chairman of the Indian Space Research Organisation ( Isro ) and secretary of the department of space, V Narayanan, has said. Speaking at the 21st convocation of the National Institute of Technology, Trichy (NIT-T) here on Saturday, Narayanan recalled the original launch of Axiom Mission 4 was scheduled for June 11, but on the morning of June 10, a liquid oxygen leak in the booster engine of the rocket was detected. "The rocket, which was supposed to take into space along with Shubanshu Shukhla and three other astronauts from different countries, had developed a problem. It was the Indian team that raised concerns and ensured the launch was called off on the evening of June 10 at 5.15pm, as the rocket was deemed unsafe to fly. The cracks were later fixed, and the rocket successfully lifted off on June 25, placing all the astronauts safely in orbit," he said. "Every Indian must be proud that, through our education system, knowledge, and the support of Isro, we were able to call off a mission in time to ensure the safety of the astronauts. Today, it is part of history that they were launched and brought back safely," he added. The Isro chairman also presented a model of the GSLV Mk-3 rocket to the institution. Praising India's space efforts, he said, "We have so far launched six rockets, with the heaviest being the GSLV Mark-3 vehicle, through which we placed Chandrayaan-2 and Chandrayaan-3 in orbit, completed commercial missions, and launched 72 foreign satellites. The same rocket is now set to lift a 6,500kg communication satellite of the USA into orbit. It will also carry Indian crew members to space in 2027." NIT-T director G Aghila presented a report about the academic, research accomplishments and reiterated its 9th ranking in NIRF and 31st among all higher education institutions. A total of 2,045 degrees were awarded which includes 175 Phd, 5 MS, 483 MTech, 18 M Arch, 95 MBA, 109 MCA, 90 17 M A, 995 B tech and 58 B Arch. Earlier, speaking to reporters at Trichy airport, Narayanan said, "On July 30, the NASA-Isro synthetic aperture radar satellite will be launched using GSLV mark 2 vehicle. The satellite is jointly realised by India, Isro and JPL (USA). This satellite is going to be useful for the global community in earth observation and disaster mitigation areas. It is an important satellite, and it will be the 102nd launch from Indian soil. "
Time of India
2 hours ago
- Time of India
Asteroid 2024 YR4 will miss Earth but might strike the moon – what happens if it does?
An asteroid once thought to be heading for Earth is now out of sight, but not out of mind. Named 2024 YR4, this 200-foot-wide space rock could strike the moon in late 2032. And scientists are paying close attention to what that could mean for both space missions and life on Earth. From 'City Killer' to lunar threat Discovered in late 2024 by the ATLAS telescope in Chile, asteroid 2024 YR4 raised alarms. At one point, it had a 3.1% chance of hitting Earth by December 22, 2032—the highest risk ever recorded for an asteroid, according to NASA . That changed after new measurements were taken using ground-based telescopes and the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST). These helped track the asteroid more precisely, improving its predicted orbit by 20%. The good news: Earth is now safe. But the not-so-good news? The moon might not be. What happens if it hits? A moon impact would not threaten life on Earth directly. But the consequences could still be significant. Scientists say the strike could form a 1-kilometer-wide crater on the moon and send up to 100 million kilograms of dust and rock into space. The size of such rocks is not an issue, as the atmosphere will protect Earth from that. However, the debris could harm satellites or even astronauts on the moon. Fine lunar dust, traveling faster than a bullet, might reach Earth within days or months and trigger a bright meteor shower . Tracking, planning, and what comes next Scientists are already preparing to observe YR4 again when it comes back into view around 2028. A proposal by MIT's Julien de Wit and Johns Hopkins' Andy Rivkin to use Webb for an early look in 2026 was recently approved. 'This newly approved program will buy decision makers two extra years to prepare, though most likely to relax, as there is an 80% chance of ruling out impact,' said de Wit. Rivkin, who led the DART mission that successfully deflected a different asteroid in 2022, says YR4 presents a different kind of question. Would we ever try to deflect something headed for the moon? 'We realize that an impact to the moon could be consequential, so what would we do?' said de Wit. As more infrastructure, missions, and astronauts are expected on the moon in the coming decades, astronomers believe events like YR4 must be taken seriously. 'If this really is a thing that we only have to worry about every 5,000 years or something, then maybe that's less pressing,' Rivkin said. 'But even just asking what would we do if we did see something that was going to hit the moon is at least something that we can now start thinking about.'
