Latest news with #EarthMapping
Times of Oman
31-07-2025
- Science
- Times of Oman
US, India launch satellite to track Earth's surface
New Delhi: The US space administration NASA and the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) together launched an Earth-mapping satellite on Wednesday. The NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR) satellite is designed to track even the tiniest of changes in the Earth's surface. The goal of the $1.3 billion (€1.14 billion) mission is to help understand what leads to both manmade and natural disasters, such as floods, landslides and volcanic eruptions. NISAR launched at 12:10 GMT from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre on the southeastern coast of India. "Congratulations India!" India's minister of science and technology, Jitendra Singh, posted on X once the satellite safely reached orbit. What is NISAR's mission? Now in orbit around Earth's poles, NISAR has got a busy 3 years ahead of itself. While 747 kilometers (464 miles) high, observing melting glaciers and polar ice sheets are among the satellite's research goals. NISAR will measure the Earth's surface twice every 12 days, observing shifts as small as 1 centimeter (0.4 inches). The satellite won't be able to predict the next earthquake but "it will help us better understand which areas of the world are most susceptible to significant earthquakes," the mission's geoscience lead, Mark Simons, said in a statement on NASA's website. "We'll see land substance and swelling, movement, deformation and melting of mountain glaciers and ice sheets covering both Greenland and Antarctica, and, of course, we'll see wildfires," added Karen St Germain, director of NASA's Earth Science division. She called NISAR "the most sophisticated radar we've ever built." How does the 'first of its kind' satellite work? NISAR is the world's first radar imaging satellite to use two radar frequencies. The so-called L-band radar is provided by NASA, and the S-band radar was developed by ISRO. These radars operate around the clock to capture Earth in extreme detail and can reportedly capture measurements regardless of weather conditions. The two radars will beam signals down to Earth. When these signals bounce back, the satellite will receive them via its huge antenna reflector. Scientists will then compare the incoming and outgoing signals as the satellite passes over the same location. "The potential applications from the satellite are huge, and the global scientific community is eagerly awaiting the satellite data," ISRO Chairman V. Narayanan said after the launch. "It is not going to be used by one or two countries. The entire globe is going to benefit from this great accomplishment," he said. NASA Deputy Associate Administrator Casey Swails said the satellite "really shows the world what our two nations can do." The launch marks the biggest space collaboration between the United States and India. NASA contributed $1.2 billion for the low-frequency radar and reflector, while ISRO contributed $91 million for the higher-frequency radar and main satellite structure. India's space program has seen a boost in recent years. In 2014, it placed a probe in Mars orbit and, in 2023, it landed a rover on the Moon.
Yahoo
31-07-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Radar satellite launched by India and NASA will track minuscule changes to Earth's land and ice
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — NASA and India paired up to launch an Earth-mapping satellite on Wednesday capable of tracking even the slightest shifts in land and ice. The $1.3 billion mission will help forecasters and first responders stay one step ahead of floods, landslides, volcanic eruptions and other disasters, according to scientists. Rocketing to orbit from India, the satellite will survey virtually all of Earth's terrain multiple times. Its two radars — one from the U.S. and the other from India — will operate day and night, peering through clouds, rain and foliage to collect troves of data in extraordinary detail. Microwave signals beamed down to Earth from the dual radars will bounce back up to the satellite's super-sized antenna reflector perched at the end of a boom like a beach umbrella. Scientists will compare the incoming and outgoing signals as the spacecraft passes over the same locations twice every 12 days, teasing out changes as small as a fraction of an inch (1 centimeter). 'Congratulations India!' India's minister of science and technology, Jitendra Singh, said via X once the satellite safely reached orbit. The mission 'will benefit the entire world community.' NASA's deputy associate administrator Casey Swails, part of a small delegation that traveled to India for the launch, said it 'really shows the world what our two nations can do. But more so than that, it really is a pathfinder for the relationship building,.' It will take a full week to extend the satellite's 30-foot (9-meter) boom and open the 39-foot-in-diameter (12-meter) drum-shaped reflector made of gold-plated wire mesh. Science operations should begin by the end of October. Among the satellite's most pressing measurements: melting glaciers and polar ice sheets; shifting groundwater supplies; motion and stress of land surfaces prompting landslides and earthquakes; and forest and wetland disruptions boosting carbon dioxide and methane emissions. It's 'a first-of-its-kind, jewel radar satellite that will change the way we study our home planet and better predict a natural disaster before it strikes," NASA's science mission chief Nicky Fox said ahead of liftoff. She was part of the NASA delegation that attended the launch in person. NASA is contributing $1.2 billion to the three-year mission; it supplied the low-frequency radar and reflector. The Indian Space Research Organization's $91 million share includes the higher-frequency radar and main satellite structure, as well as the launch from a barrier island in the Bay of Bengal. It's the biggest space collaboration between the two countries. The satellite called NISAR — short for NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar — will operate from a near-polar-circling orbit 464 miles (747 kilometers) high. It will join dozens of Earth observation missions already in operation by the U.S. and India. ___ The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute's Department of Science Education and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content. Marcia Dunn, The Associated Press
Arab News
30-07-2025
- Science
- Arab News
Radar satellite launched by India and NASA will track minuscule changes to Earth's land and ice
FLORIDA: NASA and India paired up to launch an Earth-mapping satellite on Wednesday capable of tracking even the slightest shifts in land and ice. The $1.3 billion mission will help forecasters and first responders stay one step ahead of floods, landslides, volcanic eruptions and other disasters, according to scientists. Rocketing to orbit from India, the satellite will survey virtually all of Earth's terrain multiple times. Its two radars — one from the US and the other from India — will operate day and night, peering through clouds, rain and foliage to collect troves of data in extraordinary detail. Microwave signals beamed down to Earth from the dual radars will bounce back up to the satellite's super-sized antenna reflector perched at the end of a boom like a beach umbrella. Scientists will compare the incoming and outgoing signals as the spacecraft passes over the same locations twice every 12 days, teasing out changes as small as a fraction of an inch (1 centimeter). It's 'a first-of-its-kind, jewel radar satellite that will change the way we study our home planet and better predict a natural disaster before it strikes,' NASA's science mission chief Nicky Fox said ahead of liftoff. Fox led a small NASA delegation to India for the launch. It will take a full week to extend the satellite's 30-foot (9-meter) boom and open the 39-foot-in-diameter (12-meter) drum-shaped reflector made of gold-plated wire mesh. Science operations should begin by the end of October. Among the satellite's most pressing measurements: melting glaciers and polar ice sheets; shifting groundwater supplies; motion and stress of land surfaces prompting landslides and earthquakes; and forest and wetland disruptions boosting carbon dioxide and methane emissions. NASA is contributing $1.2 billion to the three-year mission; it supplied the low-frequency radar and reflector. The Indian Space Research Organization's $91 million share includes the higher-frequency radar and main satellite structure, as well as the launch from a barrier island in the Bay of Bengal. It's the biggest space collaboration between the two countries. The satellite called NISAR — short for NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar — will operate from a near-polar-circling orbit 464 miles (747 kilometers) high. It will join dozens of Earth observation missions already in operation by the US and India.
The Independent
30-07-2025
- Science
- The Independent
Radar satellite launched by India and NASA will track miniscule changes to Earth's land and ice
NASA and India paired up to launch an Earth-mapping satellite on Wednesday capable of tracking even the slightest shifts in land and ice. The $1.3 billion mission will help forecasters and first responders stay one step ahead of floods, landslides, volcanic eruptions and other disasters, according to scientists. Rocketing to orbit from India, the satellite will survey virtually all of Earth's terrain multiple times. Its two radars — one from the U.S. and the other from India — will operate day and night, peering through clouds, rain and foliage to collect troves of data in extraordinary detail. Microwave signals beamed down to Earth from the dual radars will bounce back up to the satellite's super-sized antenna reflector perched at the end of a boom like a beach umbrella. Scientists will compare the incoming and outgoing signals as the spacecraft passes over the same locations twice every 12 days, teasing out changes as small as a fraction of an inch (1 centimeter). It's 'a first-of-its-kind, jewel radar satellite that will change the way we study our home planet and better predict a natural disaster before it strikes," NASA's science mission chief Nicky Fox said ahead of liftoff. Fox led a small NASA delegation to India for the launch. It will take a full week to extend the satellite's 30-foot (9-meter) boom and open the 39-foot-in-diameter (12-meter) drum-shaped reflector made of gold-plated wire mesh. Science operations should begin by the end of October. Among the satellite's most pressing measurements: melting glaciers and polar ice sheets; shifting groundwater supplies; motion and stress of land surfaces prompting landslides and earthquakes; and forest and wetland disruptions boosting carbon dioxide and methane emissions. NASA is contributing $1.2 billion to the three-year mission; it supplied the low-frequency radar and reflector. The Indian Space Research Organization's $91 million share includes the higher-frequency radar and main satellite structure, as well as the launch from a barrier island in the Bay of Bengal. It's the biggest space collaboration between the two countries. The satellite called NISAR — short for NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar — will operate from a near-polar-circling orbit 464 miles (747 kilometers) high. It will join dozens of Earth observation missions already in operation by the U.S. and India. ___ The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute's Department of Science Education and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content.
Washington Post
30-07-2025
- Science
- Washington Post
Radar satellite launched by India and NASA will track miniscule changes to Earth's land and ice
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — NASA and India paired up to launch an Earth-mapping satellite on Wednesday capable of tracking even the slightest shifts in land and ice. The $1.3 billion mission will help forecasters and first responders stay one step ahead of floods, landslides, volcanic eruptions and other disasters , according to scientists.
