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First Post
30-07-2025
- Science
- First Post
WATCH: NASA-ISRO NISAR earth observation satellite onboard GSLV-F16 launched from Sriharikota
The NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR) satellite successfully lifted off from Sriharikota on Wednesday. read more In a major step forward in India–US space collaboration, the NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR) satellite successfully lifted off from Sriharikota on Wednesday. The Earth observation satellite, jointly developed by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), was launched aboard the GSLV-F16 rocket from the second launch pad at 5:40 pm IST. VIDEO | Andhra Pradesh: The NASA–ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR) satellite is ready for liftoff from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota. This advanced Earth observation satellite will be launched aboard India's largest rocket, the GSLV Mk II, a three-stage… — Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) July 30, 2025 STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The launch marked a significant moment in space science and diplomacy, with NISAR aiming to provide high-resolution data on changes in the Earth's land, ice, and oceans. Weighing 2,393 kg, NISAR will operate in a Sun-synchronous polar orbit and use dual-frequency radar systems to study natural processes such as glacier movements, deforestation, coastline changes, and earthquakes. The satellite is expected to help scientists monitor climate change, disaster response, and agriculture patterns across the globe. This is the first time a GSLV rocket has carried a satellite into a Sun-synchronous orbit, typically handled by Polar Satellite Launch Vehicles (PSLVs). ISRO said this mission was the result of over a decade of collaboration, involving the exchange of technology, hardware, and expertise between the two space agencies. The NISAR satellite is equipped with two radar bands: L-Band provided by NASA and S-Band developed by ISRO. Together, these enable the use of SweepSAR technology, allowing the satellite to produce high-resolution images every 12 days, covering land, ice, and ocean surfaces. Following the successful launch, the mission now enters its commissioning phase. ISRO had said the first 90 days will be dedicated to In-Orbit Checkout, during which the systems onboard the satellite will be tested and prepared for science operations. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD ISRO built the spacecraft and launch system, while NASA provided critical instruments including the L-band radar, high-speed data link, and GPS receiver. NASA will also support orbit manoeuvres and radar operations, while both agencies will operate ground stations to receive and process the satellite data. NISAR is the 18th flight of a GSLV rocket and the 12th using an indigenous cryogenic upper stage. It is also the 102nd launch from Sriharikota. The mission is expected to have an operational life of five years. ISRO said NISAR would serve as a valuable resource for the global scientific community, offering detailed insights into Earth's dynamic systems.
News18
30-07-2025
- Politics
- News18
Rocket Politics: How India Turned A Geopolitical Roadblock Into NISAR's Launchpad
The story of India's cryogenic journey is not just about science; it's about sovereignty, strategy, and a quiet but decisive political victory in the global space race In the 1990s, the United States blocked India from acquiring cryogenic engine technology, invoking the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR). The intent was clear: keep India confined to Low Earth Orbit (LEO), away from the coveted Geosynchronous Earth Orbit (GEO) that underpins telecommunications, navigation, and high-value military applications. Three decades later, the NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR) satellite, a joint India-US mission, is set to fly aboard the GSLV Mk II powered by India's own cryogenic engine. History has a sense of poetic justice, and this upcoming launch epitomises it. Rocket politics begins with a deceptively simple metric: specific impulse (Isp). Isp measures how efficiently a rocket engine uses propellant, expressed in seconds. The higher the Isp, the longer the engine can produce thrust per unit of fuel. Consider two fuels: ISRO's early SLV rockets of the 1970s and 1980s used solid fuels like PBAN and HEF-20 with Isp values around 270 seconds, enough for LEO but far from the 460-second performance of Russian KVD-1 cryogenic engines. Cryogenics, using liquid hydrogen and oxygen at extremely low temperatures, offered that leap. Without it, India's dreams of GEO satellites and deep-space missions were grounded. The 1990s Technology Denial: A Calculated Strike By the late 1980s, India knew cryogenic technology was the gateway to true space autonomy. European and American vendors offered engines, but at prohibitive costs. Russia, emerging from the Soviet collapse, agreed in 1991 to supply KVD-1 engines and transfer the technology to build them domestically. That deal alarmed Washington. Under MTCR pretexts, the US pressured Moscow to cancel the tech transfer, claiming cryogenics could be adapted for ICBMs. The irony? Cryogenic engines are utterly unsuitable for missiles due to their complexity and slow start times. But the move wasn't about missiles; it was about power. The renegotiated 1992 deal gave India a handful of readymade engines but no blueprints, no know-how. It was a strategic chokehold aimed at keeping India dependent and Russia weakened. This process was 'rocket politics" at its most ruthless: deny the technology, control the orbit. The Long Road To Indigenous Cryogenics ISRO responded with a decision that would redefine India's technological destiny: build it ourselves. The first attempt in 2000 failed spectacularly. But unlike many nations that collapsed under denial regimes, India persisted. The CE-7.5 engine, with an Isp of ~454 seconds, emerged after years of trial and error. In 2014, it powered the GSLV Mk II into a successful GEO mission, finally breaking the embargo's intended ceiling. The success of CE-7.5 led to CE-20 on the GSLV Mk III, enabling 4-ton payloads to GTO and supporting missions like Chandrayaan-2 and 3. India had cracked the code. The denial had backfired: instead of dependence, it forged self-reliance. Fast-forward to 2025. NISAR, a US-India collaboration to map Earth's ecosystems and monitor climate change, lifts off atop a GSLV Mk II with an Indian cryogenic heart. The same technology Washington tried to withhold now carries a joint mission between the two nations. But the symbolism goes deeper. NISAR embodies India's transition from a space programme fighting for scraps of denied tech to a partner that commands respect. It's also a subtle message: India doesn't forget the politics behind the science. Today, the 'Vishwa Bandhu" vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi – India as a global partner contributing to humanity's collective good – rests firmly on indigenous engines born out of adversity. Cryogenic technology is more than engineering; it's strategic sovereignty. GEO satellites handle secure communications, military data links, and national navigation systems like India's IRNSS. Whoever controls access to GEO controls critical slices of global infrastructure. The US denial of the 1990s was part of a broader Cold War hangover strategy: restrict tech, maintain the hierarchy of space powers. China, learning from India's experience, aggressively developed its own cryogenic Long March engines to avoid similar dependence. Today, South Korea and Japan are doing the same. For India, indigenous cryogenics have unlocked more than orbits; they've unlocked leverage. The GSLV Mk II and Mk III are not just launch vehicles; they are strategic assets. With the NISAR launch, India has signalled it's no longer a junior partner in space; it's a peer. The Lesson: Denial Breeds Determination The NISAR launch isn't just a technological milestone; it's a political arc completed. A denial meant to stifle India's ambitions instead birthed an indigenous capability that no embargo can touch. In the annals of space history, this story will stand alongside Russia's Sputnik and America's Apollo not as a tale of triumph over physics, but of triumph over geopolitics. In a world where technology is increasingly weaponised for control, India's cryogenic journey is a blueprint for self-reliance. It reinforces a simple but profound truth: sovereignty in space is sovereignty on Earth. As the cryogenic roar of the GSLV Mk II fades into the upper atmosphere carrying NISAR, it carries with it three decades of defiance, innovation, and quiet vindication. Rocket politics began with a denial; it ends with an engine built in Bengaluru lifting a joint mission with the very nation that tried to keep it grounded. top videos View all And in that arc lies the true power of Indian science, not just to reach the stars, but to rewrite the politics that guard the gates to them. The writer is a technocrat, political analyst, and author. He pens national, geopolitical, and social issues. His social media handle is @prosenjitnth. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18's views. About the Author Prosenjit Nath The writer is an Indian technocrat, political analyst, and author. tags : ISRO nasa Satellite Launch view comments Location : New Delhi, India, India First Published: July 30, 2025, 13:21 IST News opinion Opinion | Rocket Politics: How India Turned A Geopolitical Roadblock Into NISAR's Launchpad Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. 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Indian Express
30-07-2025
- Science
- Indian Express
India to launch NASA-ISRO NISAR satellite today: Here's how to watch live
NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar, NISAR for short, is all set to launch from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh. The satellite will be aboard India's largest rocket – the GSLV Mk II, an expendable non-reusable three-stage launch vehicle that is 52 metres or 170 feet in height. In a statement, former ISRO chairperson K Sivan said NISAR 'is a very advanced satellite that can capture even the slightest of the movements on the Earth's surface. These observations can help them in mapping changes such as volcanic hazards or landslides and prepare in advance. This is a result of a collaboration that started nearly 10 years ago.' Weighing 2.392 kg, the Earth observation will be launched aboard the Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle Mark II, or GSLV Mk II rocket for short, with liftoff scheduled for Wednesday, July 30 at 5:40 PM IST. You can watch the live launch of NISAR using the link below, or you can head over to NASA's website to tune in to the launch. The Earth observation satellite will take anywhere between eight to ten days for full deployment. Post launch, NISAR will be in a 65-day engineering phase where scientists will conduct preliminary tests and calibrations every day. Jointly developed by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and the National Aeronautical and Space Administration (NASA), the Earth observation satellite is capable of mapping the Earth during both day and night time in any weather condition. Designed to scan the entire Earth every 12 days, the satellite will have two synthetic aperture radars called SARs, which are designed to detect changes to the planet's surface down to fractions of an inch. The Earth observation satellite can help scientists monitor natural disasters like earthquakes and landslides, and also offer them an 'unprecedented coverage of Antarctica' so they can understand how ice sheets change over time. The first-ever hardware collaboration between ISRO and NASA features two radar systems which will monitor Earth's land and ice surfaces every 12 days. NISAR will also cover surfaces where no other satellite has been able to reach. The S-band radar, which was built by ISRO, will help monitor crops, while the L-band radar, which is developed by NASA, is capable of penetrating deep forest canopies. These components were integrated and installed on a modified ISRO I3K spacecraft bus earlier this year. NISAR's launch has been delayed numerous times, with the last launch date pushed back after it had trouble with the unfurlable antennae.
NDTV
30-07-2025
- Science
- NDTV
NISAR Satellite Embodies 'Strength Respects Strength': ISRO Chief To NDTV
In a historic collaboration, India and the United States are poised to launch the NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar Satellite (NISAR)-the most expensive civilian Earth observation satellite ever built. With a staggering budget of $1.3 billion, NISAR is a technological marvel designed to monitor earthquakes, glacial movements, carbon sequestration, and climate change-induced disasters such as glacial lake outbursts. In an exclusive interview with NDTV, Dr V Narayanan, Chairman of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), expressed immense pride in the mission, calling it a "life-saving satellite" and a symbol of India's rising leadership in space. "This is going to be yet another great day for India," he said. "There's a saying-strength only respects strength." ISRO says GSLV-F16 is the 18th flight of India's Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV) and the 12th flight with the Indigenous Cryogenic stage. This is the 9th operational flight of GSLV with an indigenous Cryogenic stage. This is the first mission with GSLV being used to place a satellite in sun-synchronous polar orbit. Dr Narayanan reflected on India's journey in space technology, tracing its roots back to 1975 when the country launched its first satellite, Aryabhata, with Russia's support. "From that humble beginning, when India relied on other nations for satellite technology, we are now gradually occupying a leadership role," he said. "Today, two great countries have built an important satellite together, and I'm extremely happy that it will be launched by our vehicle from Indian soil." NISAR carries two major payloads-one developed by ISRO and the other by NASA. The satellite bus was built in Bengaluru, and the mission represents a seamless fusion of Indian and American engineering excellence. Development took place at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in Pasadena, California, and ISRO's URSC Satellite Centre in Bengaluru and Space Applications Centre in Ahmedabad. The satellite will be launched from Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh using India's Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle Mark 2 (GSLV Mk II), a rocket that once earned the nickname "naughty boy" due to its early reliability issues. Dr Narayanan, who assumed the role of ISRO Chairman on January 13 this year, made a bold decision to use the GSLV Mk II for his first launch, despite having the option to delay and use the more proven PSLV. "I had no iota of doubt," he said. "The GSLV Mark 2, once called the naughty boy, is now a sincere, obedient boy. It lifted off gigantically and yielded the required result." That successful flight on January 29 marked ISRO's 100th launch and reaffirmed the rocket's reliability. As a rocket technologist who led the development of India's cryogenic engine, Dr Narayanan emphasised the rigorous testing and systematic effort that went into preparing the vehicle for NISAR. "Every aspect is thoroughly addressed. We don't change decisions arbitrarily. The GSLV F-16 vehicle, in my opinion, is 100 per cent reliable." The NISAR mission also showcases India's frugal yet effective approach to space technology. While NASA's contribution is estimated at nearly $1.2 billion, India's share-including a major payload, the satellite bus, the rocket, and the launch pad-is reportedly under $100 million. Dr Narayanan attributed this cost-efficiency to India's culture of innovation and resourcefulness. "It's the working culture, the testing requirements, and the nature of experiments that determine cost," he explained. "Whenever we write a test plan, we think about what's happening in India's [poorest] villages. Can we do a digital simulation to bring down the cost? Recall, with just three engines, we successfully flew the indigenous cryogenic stage. No other country does that." Beyond its technological prowess, NISAR is a diplomatic milestone. Dr Narayanan recalled his joy when Prime Minister Narendra Modi proudly announced the joint development of NISAR by ISRO and JPL during a press conference in the United States. "When the Honourable Prime Minister said that India and JPL USA have built the NISAR satellite-what type of happiness, what else is required? That's the type of feeling I had." India's space journey has come full circle-from launching Aryabhata with Russian support to now co-developing and launching a billion-dollar satellite with the United States. Today, India has over 50 satellites in orbit and is recognised as a global space leader. The NISAR satellite is expected to deliver critical data for disaster preparedness, environmental monitoring, and scientific research. It will help scientists track changes in Earth's surface with millimetre-level precision, offering insights into tectonic shifts, ice sheet dynamics, and carbon storage. "Naturally, I'm excited," Dr Narayanan said. "With another giant, we have built a satellite together. Our rocket is going to place the satellite. As Chairman of ISRO and Secretary of the Department of Space-and more than that, as a technologist-I am so excited to see that successful mission." As India prepares to launch NISAR from Sriharikota, the mission stands as a testament to the power of international collaboration, scientific ambition, and the transformative potential of space technology. It is a moment of pride not just for ISRO and NASA, but for every citizen of India and America.
