Latest news with #Kavuluru
The Hindu
01-08-2025
- Science
- The Hindu
NISAR mission will showcase Indian space engineering on global scale: ex-ISRO scientist
The NISAR mission, a collaborative effort between ISRO and NASA, will demonstrate Indian space engineering capabilities for Earth observation on a global scale, a top scientist has said. The NISAR (NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar) is a global mission, and its data will be accessible for download worldwide by users, said Radha Krishna Kavuluru, former Ground Segment Engineer and Ex-Project Manager of NISAR. ISRO is set to launch the NISAR satellite aboard the GSLV-Mk II rocket from Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh, on July 30 at 5:40 p.m. The GSLV-F16 marks the 18th flight of India's Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle and the 9th operational flight with an indigenous cryogenic stage. The countdown is expected to commence later on Tuesday (July 29, 2025), ISRO sources said. This mission is the first GSLV launch to achieve a Sun-Synchronous Polar Orbit. The 51.7-meter-tall, three-stage rocket will lift off from the second launch pad, approximately 135 km east of Chennai. About 19 minutes after launch, the satellite is expected to be placed into its designated orbit. Explained | What are ISRO and NASA aiming to achieve with the NISAR satellite? Elaborating on the mission, Mr. Kavuluru explained that NASA provides the L-Band, while ISRO contributes the S-Band for the Synthetic Aperture Radar, enabling the collection of vast amounts of data. 'The satellite will transmit extensive data covering the Earth, including Antarctica, the North Pole, and oceans,' he told PTI. Highlighting the mission's significance, Mr. Kavuluru noted that unlike earlier ISRO observation satellites such as the Resourcesat and RISAT series, which could capture images globally but were operationally focused on India and surrounding regions, NISAR will collect data across the entire globe for operational use. 'This data will be extensively utilised by governments and commercial entities worldwide,' he said. 'NISAR is one of the key missions that will garner large-scale operational user feedback from across the globe,' Mr. Kavuluru emphasised. 'All countries will leverage NISAR data for various applications, showcasing the strength of Indian space engineering. This is the core importance of the mission,' he added. Mr. Kavuluru underscored the mission's importance as ISRO's first major partnership with NASA for an Earth observation satellite. 'This collaboration fosters significant technical exchange, with ISRO and NASA sharing insights into their respective planning and execution processes,' he said. Mr. Kavuluru added that ISRO will process and make most of the data available as open-source, accessible to users globally. The satellite, which will cover the entire Earth every 12 days, will provide approximately 2.5 coverages per month and 10 coverages in 120 days. 'This will enable us to monitor seasonal changes, including forest dynamics, mountain shifts, and glacier movements in regions like the Himalayas and Antarctica,' he explained. 'This is a highly significant, high-value, and ambitious mission for ISRO,' Mr. Kavuluru remarked. The GSLV-F16/NISAR mission is designed for a lifespan of five years.
Economic Times
30-07-2025
- Science
- Economic Times
Isro set for major milestone in earth observation with NISAR, an India-Nasa joint mission
Synopsis ISRO is preparing to launch the NISAR satellite, a joint Earth observation mission with NASA, on July 30. The satellite, equipped with dual-frequency radar, will provide global data accessible to all, monitoring environmental changes and supporting various sectors. This five-year mission marks a significant collaboration, enhancing global understanding and management of our planet. ANI "One mission to watch Earth": ISRO-NASA's joint satellite NISAR The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is preparing to launch the NISAR satellite, a joint mission with NASA, marking a major milestone in Earth observation and international collaboration. The launch is scheduled for July 30 at 5:40 pm IST from Sriharikota's second launch pad. NISAR, short for NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar, will be placed into a Sun-Synchronous Polar Orbit aboard India's GSLV-Mk II rocket, designated GSLV-F16. This marks the 18th flight of the Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle and its 9th operational flight using an indigenous cryogenic stage. The launch countdown is expected to begin later on Tuesday, news agency PTI reported citing ISRO officials. In a significant first, this will be the GSLV's debut mission to a Sun-Synchronous Polar Orbit. The 51.7-metre rocket will lift off from the coastal launch site, around 135 km east of Chennai. Within approximately 19 minutes, the satellite is expected to reach its designated the world watches closely, NISAR is set to not only mark a technological achievement for India, but also shape how we understand and manage our planet in the years ahead. Former NISAR Project Manager and Ground Segment Engineer, Radha Krishna Kavuluru, highlighted the mission's global relevance. Unlike ISRO's earlier observation satellites -- such as the Resourcesat and RISAT series, which primarily served India and nearby regions -- NISAR is designed for worldwide operational use. The satellite will carry dual-frequency radar systems, with NASA contributing the L-Band and ISRO the S-Band. Together, they form a high-resolution radar capable of scanning and collecting data from nearly every corner of the Earth, including remote and challenging environments such as Antarctica, the North Pole and deep oceanic emphasised that NISAR data will be freely accessible worldwide. Governments, researchers, and commercial users from all countries are expected to benefit from its findings. The satellite will revisit every location on Earth every 12 days, providing about 2.5 observations per month and 10 in a span of 120 days. This global coverage will enable critical tracking of changes in forests, glaciers, and mountain ranges -- especially in vulnerable regions like the Himalayas and Antarctica. The mission is designed to monitor seasonal changes and long-term environmental shifts with unmatched precision."NISAR is one of the key missions that will receive large-scale operational feedback from across the globe," Kavuluru said, pointing to its expected impact on sectors such as agriculture, disaster response, and environmental management. He also underlined the strategic importance of the collaboration, noting that this is ISRO's first major Earth observation partnership with NASA. 'It's not just about the satellite. It's about technical exchange, joint planning, and building capabilities on both sides,' he said. Most of the data processed by ISRO will be made open-source, reinforcing India's role as a contributor to global science and space technology. The mission is slated to last five years.'This is a highly significant, high-value, and ambitious mission for ISRO,' the news agency quoted Kavuluru as saying.
The Hindu
29-07-2025
- Science
- The Hindu
NISAR mission would showcase Indian space engineering on a global scale: Ex-ISRO scientist
The NISAR mission, a collaborative effort between ISRO and NASA, will demonstrate Indian space engineering capabilities for Earth observation on a global scale, a top scientist has said. The NISAR (NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar) is a global mission, and its data will be accessible for download worldwide by users, said Radha Krishna Kavuluru, former Ground Segment Engineer and Ex-Project Manager of NISAR. ISRO is set to launch the NISAR satellite aboard the GSLV-Mk II rocket from Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh, on July 30 at 5:40 p.m. The GSLV-F16 marks the 18th flight of India's Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle and the 9th operational flight with an indigenous cryogenic stage. The countdown is expected to commence later on Tuesday (July 29, 2025), ISRO sources said. This mission is the first GSLV launch to achieve a Sun-Synchronous Polar Orbit. The 51.7-meter-tall, three-stage rocket will lift off from the second launch pad, approximately 135 km east of Chennai. About 19 minutes after launch, the satellite is expected to be placed into its designated orbit. Explained | What are ISRO and NASA aiming to achieve with the NISAR satellite? Elaborating on the mission, Mr. Kavuluru explained that NASA provides the L-Band, while ISRO contributes the S-Band for the Synthetic Aperture Radar, enabling the collection of vast amounts of data. 'The satellite will transmit extensive data covering the Earth, including Antarctica, the North Pole, and oceans,' he told PTI. Highlighting the mission's significance, Mr. Kavuluru noted that unlike earlier ISRO observation satellites such as the Resourcesat and RISAT series, which could capture images globally but were operationally focused on India and surrounding regions, NISAR will collect data across the entire globe for operational use. 'This data will be extensively utilised by governments and commercial entities worldwide,' he said. 'NISAR is one of the key missions that will garner large-scale operational user feedback from across the globe,' Mr. Kavuluru emphasised. 'All countries will leverage NISAR data for various applications, showcasing the strength of Indian space engineering. This is the core importance of the mission,' he added. Mr. Kavuluru underscored the mission's importance as ISRO's first major partnership with NASA for an Earth observation satellite. 'This collaboration fosters significant technical exchange, with ISRO and NASA sharing insights into their respective planning and execution processes,' he said. Mr. Kavuluru added that ISRO will process and make most of the data available as open-source, accessible to users globally. The satellite, which will cover the entire Earth every 12 days, will provide approximately 2.5 coverages per month and 10 coverages in 120 days. 'This will enable us to monitor seasonal changes, including forest dynamics, mountain shifts, and glacier movements in regions like the Himalayas and Antarctica,' he explained. 'This is a highly significant, high-value, and ambitious mission for ISRO,' Mr. Kavuluru remarked. The GSLV-F16/NISAR mission is designed for a lifespan of five years.
