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New Indian Express
01-08-2025
- Science
- New Indian Express
Eyes in the Sky: NISAR to decode Earth's silent warnings
On July 8, a local in Upper Mustang, Nepal, noticed an ominous flood wave rushing down the Chhuhama stream above Chumjung and Lo Manthang, close to the iconic Muktinath temple. The source was a rapidly drained glacial lake high on the Kali Gandaki glacier, located above 5,900 meters altitude. Over preceding weeks, the lake had steadily grown before emptying itself subglacially over 500 meters. Within hours, the floodwaters had ripped apart four downstream bridges, deposited debris across 35 kilometers, and caused substantial damage. This was the third highest Glacial Lake Outburst Flood (GLOF) ever recorded in High Mountain Asia, and a harsh reminder of how rapidly the cryosphere is changing under pressure from rising temperatures. At some places this year, temperatures soared 5°C above long-term seasonal averages. Experts say the frequency of GLOFs is increasing — with at least eight reported this year across Nepal, China, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Kyrgyzstan —triggered by rapid ice melt, permafrost thawing, and newly formed glacial lakes. Now, all eyes are on NISAR, the joint NASA-ISRO Earth observation satellite launched on July 30, which is being hailed as a game-changer in forecasting such disasters and improving climate resilience. NISAR mission The NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR) mission is the world's first dual-frequency radar imaging satellite. It combines L-band radar from NASA and S-band radar from ISRO to monitor Earth's surface changes with unmatched precision — day and night, in all weather conditions. The first 90 days post-launch are designated for In-Orbit Checkout (IOC), during which systems will be calibrated and tested before full science operations begin. Once operational, NISAR will image the global land and ice-covered surfaces, including islands, sea-ice and selected oceans every 12 days, which experts say is unprecedented. 'NISAR will allow us to detect subtle movements in Earth's surface — including saturated soils on unstable slopes, deformation from earthquakes, and the slow growth of glacial lakes that might not be visible from above,' said Dr Gerald W Bawden, program manager at NASA's Natural Hazards Research Earth Science Division and a key member of the NISAR launch team, told this newspaper.
Web Release
11-05-2025
- Business
- Web Release
How the Space Industry Can Help Future-Proof Life on Earth – International Experts Gather in Dubai to Discuss
By Editor_wr On May 11, 2025 Decision makers and policy pioneers from the space sector will gather in Dubai to discuss trends and challenges in the new space economy at SATExpo Middle East 2025, which takes place from May 13 to 15, 2025, at the Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC). The two-day event's summit will look at how satellites can transform life on earth, with topics including 'Space Technology Adoption in Emerging Markets,' 'The Road to In-Orbit Sustainability,' 'AI's Role in Transforming the Use of Satellite Data,' and more. With the satellite sector booming – projected to grow at 16.1% annually – the Summit's expert-led sessions will tackle urgent questions: How can space tech combat climate crises? Where does AI intersect with orbital infrastructure? And who's redefining connectivity beyond terrestrial limits? Futureproofing from orbit – a critical mission From LEO revolutions to AI-driven satellite data, the summit's speaker roster reads like a who's-who of innovators and forward-thinkers within this rapidly growing industry. Highlights include an opening address by Amer AlSayegh, Assistant Director General for Aerospace Engineering Sector at Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC); Rivada Space Networks unveiling Outernet, a game-changer in secure global connectivity; SpaceData merging AI, digital twins, and pharmaceutical research in zero gravity, plus Astroscale Japan Inc., Es'hailSat, Axiom Space, Neo Space Group, and 30+ more pioneers dissecting the $22.5B+ satellite economy. 'Terrestrial systems are fragmented – space is the answer,' declares Joe Apa, Rivada Space Networks VP MEA, ahead of his keynote on LEO's future. 'Today's global enterprises and government networks require infrastructure solutions that address the issues of cybersecurity, latency, and speed associated with the complexity and fragmentation of terrestrial systems,' Apa continued. 'At the SATExpo ME Summit, I will proudly represent Rivada, delivering a keynote speech on the 'Future of Low Earth Orbit (LEO) Services'. Moreover, attendees visiting the stand can explore our latest service, 'Outernet', which is a revolutionary private network satellite that redefines global connectivity.' While Apa envisions a connected future from orbit, Takata pushes boundaries further, where space data meets AI to redefine industries beyond Earth. Atsushi Takata, Executive Vice President, Space Utilisation and Global Strategy, SpaceData, said: 'At SpaceData, our mission is to merge the realms of 'space' and 'digital' by integrating technologies from satellites, space stations, and lunar exploration with AI, 3DCG, and digital twins. Our recent investment in Exobiosphere, a Luxembourg-based biotechnology company pioneering pharmaceutical research in space, is a testament to our commitment to advancing innovation at the intersection of these fields. I look forward to discussing 'AI's role in Transforming Use of Satellite Data and Bridging New Space Economy' at the upcoming Summit.' Co-located with B2B media and broadcast technology event CABSAT, SATExpo is launched by DWTC to fuel investment, partnerships, and innovation in the space sector, with the two events bridging broadcast, digital media, and the final frontier. Access to the two-day Summit is complimentary with delegate passes for SATExpo 2025, which can be obtained by registering here. Comments are closed.
