Nisar launch on July 30: Why it will not work for the first 90 days
Initial activities focus on verifying the health and status of the satellite's main systems. (Photo: Isro)
advertisementWHY WILL IT NOT WORK FOR 90 DAYS IN SPACE?
This measured approach is due to the critical commissioning or In-Orbit Checkout (IOC) phase, a period dedicated to preparing the satellite and its sophisticated instruments for their full mission.The two space agencies have set a three month period for the commissioning of the satellite before it begins mapping the planet for minutest changes and shifts. Once in orbit, NISAR will spend its first three months undergoing a series of meticulous checks and calibrations. The IOC period is split into several sub-phases.Initial activities focus on verifying the health and status of the satellite's main systems. Following this, engineers will concentrate on the payload and instrument checkout. This process is aimed at validating the performance of NISAR's state-of-the-art sensors.
NISAR mission's primary objectives are to study land & ice deformation, land ecosystems. (Photo: Isro)
A highlight of the commissioning phase is the deployment of NISAR's impressive 12-meter diameter reflector, one of the largest ever flown on an Earth observation satellite. Attached to a 9-meter-long boom, the reflector must be unfurled with extreme precision in orbit, a task made possible by a multi-stage deployable mechanism designed by NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL).'Commissioning is essential to ensure the observatory operates as intended and delivers high-quality data,' a senior Isro official explained. "Any missteps now could compromise years of upcoming scientific research."Only after this commissioning period will the satellite transition into full science operations, where it will collect groundbreaking data on Earth's surface using its dual-frequency L- and S-band radars.
The spacecraft will not begin its much-anticipated science operations after launch. (Photo: Isro)
During this phase, the satellite's orbit will be carefully maintained, with manoeuvres scheduled to minimise interference with scientific observations. Extensive calibration and validation (CalVal) activities, along with early data releases, will further ensure data accuracy.Planning for observation schedules and engineering tasks, including upcoming manoeuvres and sensor updates, is already underway through close coordination between JPL and Isro.For NISAR, patience in the early days is critical, laying the foundation for years of transformative Earth science.- EndsMust Watch
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