NISAR satellite: This India-US mission can see through everything with bus-sized radar and detects even small changes on Earth
Tired of too many ads?
Remove Ads
First satellite with dual-frequency radar
What NISAR will monitor
NISAR will observe Earth's surface changes with high precision. The satellite will support a range of applications:
Ground deformation: It will monitor earthquakes, volcanic activity, and landslides by detecting centimeter-level changes in Earth's crust.
Ice and glaciers: The satellite will track polar ice sheet movement and melting to inform climate models.
Ecosystems and agriculture: It will assess changes in forests, crop growth, and vegetation patterns.
Hydrology: It will track soil moisture and surface water changes for water resource management.
Disaster response: Real-time data will aid emergency response to events like floods, cyclones, wildfires, and tsunamis.
Coastal and maritime surveillance: It will monitor coastal erosion, sea ice, and ship movements.
Nisar's Massive Daily Output:
Will generate ~80 terabytes of data products per day.
Data equivalent to ~150 standard 512 GB hard drives daily.
Cloud-based processing and open access to data.
Tired of too many ads?
Remove Ads
L-band radar (NASA) uses longer wavelengths to penetrate through vegetation, soil, and ice, making it useful for monitoring underground features and environmental changes.
S-band radar (ISRO) uses shorter wavelengths, which are more responsive to surface-level changes, enabling detailed analysis of crops, snow cover, and soil deformation.
Collaboration over a decade
Strategic and scientific value
India and the United States are set to launch their first joint Earth observation satellite, the NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar ( NISAR ), on July 30, 2025, at 17:40 IST. The satellite, weighing 2,392 kilograms, will be launched onboard ISRO's GSLV-F16 rocket from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota. The launch vehicle will place the satellite into a 743 km sun-synchronous orbit, marking a significant milestone in international collaboration in space science.The NISAR satellite will be the first in the world to operate a dual-frequency Synthetic Aperture Radar, using both NASA's L-band and ISRO's S-band radars. These will be mounted on a 12-meter unfurlable mesh reflector antenna developed by NASA and integrated into ISRO's modified I3K satellite bus.The mission uses SweepSAR technology to capture wide-swath, high-resolution radar images. With a swath width of 242 kilometers and an imaging resolution of 5 to 10 meters, NISAR will revisit the same location every 12 days, providing consistent, all-weather, day-and-night coverage.Each radar frequency on board serves a specific purpose:The NISAR mission is a result of more than ten years of collaboration between ISRO and NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL). The two space agencies have worked jointly to design, develop, and test the satellite system.According to ISRO, 'NISAR can detect even small changes in the Earth's surface such as ground deformation, ice sheet movement and vegetation dynamics.'NASA and ISRO aim to use this data to support global efforts in food security, urban development, climate change mitigation, and disaster preparedness.By combining resources and radar expertise, the mission is expected to benefit scientists, policymakers, and disaster-response teams worldwide. The continuous flow of data from NISAR is intended to support long-term Earth observation and environmental monitoring strategies.The mission is expected to contribute long-term insights into Earth's dynamic processes, supporting better decision-making for sustainable development.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Mission Samudrayaan: India inches closer to sending humans into ocean's darkest depths, key details inside
India just got one step closer to sending people deep into the ocean! Scientists have completed a major part of the Samudrayaan project , a human mission to explore the ocean floor, by successfully welding the crew pod of the deep-sea vehicle, Matsya-6000 . What is Samudrayaan? Samudrayaan is India's first manned deep ocean mission, run by the Ministry of Earth Sciences. The goal? To send three people up to 6 kilometres below sea level using a special vehicle that can handle extreme underwater conditions, crushing pressure, cold temperatures, and total darkness. Explore courses from Top Institutes in Please select course: Select a Course Category Operations Management PGDM Artificial Intelligence Data Science Digital Marketing CXO Finance Public Policy healthcare Cybersecurity Data Science Healthcare others Technology Management Project Management Product Management Leadership Data Analytics Design Thinking MCA Degree Others MBA Skills you'll gain: Quality Management & Lean Six Sigma Analytical Tools Supply Chain Management & Strategies Service Operations Management Duration: 10 Months IIM Lucknow IIML Executive Programme in Strategic Operations Management & Supply Chain Analytics Starts on Jan 27, 2024 Get Details This mission is part of India's broader Deep Ocean Mission, which focuses on exploring underwater resources, understanding marine biodiversity, and developing deep-sea technology. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Click here for more information Undo At the heart of the mission is the Human Occupied Vehicle (HOV), designed to keep the crew safe under intense pressure. The most important part of this HOV is a titanium sphere, 2.26 metres wide, with walls 80 mm thick, built to survive pressures of 600 bar and temperatures as low as -3°C. On Wednesday, ISRO (India's space agency) announced that it had successfully welded this titanium pod using Electron Beam Welding (EBW), a first of its kind in India. This welding process was extremely difficult because it needed to join thick titanium parts together with high precision. Live Events Why This Is a Big Deal Welding thick titanium isn't easy. The team had to upgrade their tools, increasing their welding machine's power from 15kW to 40kW, and even build better testing equipment. They carried out nearly 700 test welds, even inserting fake defects to test their safety checks. Finally, they completed a 32-minute-long weld on the actual sub, 80 mm thick over 7.1 metres. It was a continuous process that required pinpoint accuracy. ISRO called it a 'national first in scale and precision.' Now that the weld is done, Matsya-6000 is one step closer to underwater trials. Once ready, it will join an elite group of human submersibles worldwide that can go 6 km deep. This will help India explore new sea life, underwater minerals, and develop cutting-edge tech. Inputs from TOI
Time of India
3 hours ago
- Time of India
'Samudrayaan' project: Deep Sea Mission crosses milestone with successful weld of human-rated submersible
BENGALURU: In a step towards India's first human mission into the deep ocean, the National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT) and Isro 's Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC) have successfully completed a critical welding process for Matsya-6000 — a crewed submersible being developed under the Ministry of Earth Sciences' 'Samudrayaan' project. Samudrayaan is part of the Deep Ocean Mission and aims to send a three-member crew into the ocean up to a depth of 6km. Central to this effort is the creation of a Human Occupied Vehicle (HOV) that can withstand extreme pressure and temperature conditions on the seafloor. 'At the heart of the HOV is a titanium personnel sphere, a 2,260 mm diameter enclosure with 80 mm thick walls, made from a high-strength Ti6Al4V (ELI grade) alloy. Designed by VSSC, the sphere is built to endure pressure up to 600 bar and temperatures as low as -3°C,' Isro said Wednesday. You Can Also Check: Bengaluru AQI | Weather in Bengaluru | Bank Holidays in Bengaluru | Public Holidays in Bengaluru Challenges It added that the critical challenge in realising this human-rated vessel lay in developing a reliable high-penetration Electron Beam Welding (EBW) process to join the thick titanium components. 'This required welding depths between 80mm and 102mm, a first for the country. The Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre (LPSC) led this effort, establishing the necessary welding infrastructure and non-destructive evaluation (NDE) facilities,' Isro said. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like An engineer reveals: One simple trick to get internet without a subscription Techno Mag Learn More Undo LPSC's Bengaluru facility, which previously handled EBW up to 20mm, was significantly upgraded, Isro said, adding that the EBW machine was enhanced from 15kW to 40kW capacity, and additional systems were installed for chemical cleaning and handling the high mass components. 'The existing X-ray testing system, which operated in the kilovolt range, was similarly upgraded to a 7.5 MeV facility to enable deeper inspection. To ensure safety and certification, multiple NDE methods were employed to verify weld quality — including Time of Flight Diffraction (TOFD) and Dual Linear Array Phased Array Ultrasonic Testing (DLA PAUT). 700 trials Nearly 700 welding trials were carried out to fine-tune process parameters. Artificial defects were introduced in test samples to validate and calibrate the inspection techniques. Third-party agencies are reviewing and certifying the welding specifications, qualification protocols and NDE processes. The breakthrough came with the successful completion of the first high-penetration weld on the actual sphere hardware. This involved 80 mm thick welds over a 7,100 mm length, achieved in a continuous 32-minute operation, 'a national first in scale and precision' as per Isro. The milestone marks a significant leap for India's underwater exploration ambitions and brings Matsya-6000 closer to sea trials. Once complete, the vehicle will be among the very few human submersibles in the world capable of reaching such depths, opening new frontiers for deep sea science, resource exploration and technology development.
Hans India
3 hours ago
- Hans India
Google Pixel 10 Series Set for India Launch on August 21 with Exclusive Pre-Order Offers
Google has officially revealed that the highly anticipated Pixel 10 series will launch in India on August 21, just a day after its global debut on August 20. This year's flagship smartphone lineup from Google will feature four models—Pixel 10, Pixel 10 Pro, Pixel 10 Pro XL, and the foldable Pixel 10 Pro Fold—bringing notable upgrades in design, performance, and artificial intelligence integration. As part of its India push, Google is offering exclusive pre-order benefits for early adopters. Customers who register on the Google Store by 12:30 PM IST on August 19 will receive a special promo code via email on the day pre-orders open. These early registrants stand to enjoy offers such as exchange bonuses, cashback options, and Google Store credits for future purchases. Additionally, Google is promoting no-cost EMI plans extending up to 24 months for credit card payments, further simplifying the purchase process. This year's launch is significant as it marks the first full-cycle release of Pixel phones through the Google Store India, which debuted earlier in 2025. The move ensures a more direct and rewarding buying experience for Indian consumers. Alongside the launch announcement, Google also teased a first look at the Pixel 10 Pro. The design retains the signature pill-shaped camera island, familiar from the Pixel 9 Pro, but includes refined elements suggesting improved ergonomics and visual appeal. While Google has kept full specifications under wraps, leaks and teasers offer some insights. The Pixel 10 Pro is expected to come with a triple-camera setup, including a 48MP main sensor, 12MP ultrawide, and 10.8MP telephoto lens. The base Pixel 10 may get smaller sensors but is rumored to include a telephoto lens for the first time, offering better zoom capabilities even on the standard model. A key highlight across the lineup is the Tensor G5 chipset, reportedly manufactured on TSMC's 3nm process, promising a significant leap in speed, efficiency, and AI performance. The foldable Pixel 10 Pro Fold is drawing attention for its rumored features: a larger cover display, slimmer hinge, IP68 rating, and stronger battery life—factors that could position it as a serious competitor in the premium foldable market. All Pixel 10 models will ship with Android 16, showcasing a refreshed Material 3 Expressive UI and enhanced AI capabilities. Some features, previewed at Google I/O 2025, include AI video editing in Google Photos, voice-controlled image tweaks via 'Speak-to-Tweak,' and a creative Sketch-to-Image generation tool. There's also buzz around a new on-device AI assistant called 'Pixel Sense', which is said to focus on local data processing for more personalized, secure, and private AI experiences across Google apps like Gmail, Maps, and YouTube. As the countdown to launch begins, Google's Pixel 10 series looks set to make a bold statement in India's flagship smartphone segment, blending premium design with the power of AI.
