NASA-ISRO NISAR Mission Prepares for Launch

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The NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR) mission, a collaborative effort between NASA and ISRO, is on track for its scheduled launch in the first quarter of 2024.

About the NISAR Mission

  • International cooperation in space exploration is exemplified by NISAR, a Low Earth Orbit observatory co-developed by NASA and ISRO.
  • Launch Vehicle: ISRO’s GSLV Mark-II launch vehicle is scheduled to carry out the mission’s launch from Sriharikota’s Satish Dhawan Space Centre.
  • Data Utility: Researchers will be able to monitor volcanic activity, trace the consequences of groundwater use, measure the rate at which ice sheets melt, and observe changes in the distribution of flora worldwide with the help of NISAR data, which will provide previously unheard-of information.
  • Mission Duration: After a 90-day commissioning period, the $1.5 billion NISAR mission is scheduled to survey Earth’s land and ice-covered regions every 12 days for a total of three years.

Advanced SAR Technology

  • Dual-Band Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR): Using the Sweep SAR approach, NISAR provides high resolution data together with extensive coverage for L and S dual-band Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR).
  • Observatory Structure: An observatory is created when the spacecraft bus and SAR payloads are installed atop the Integrated Radar Instrument Structure (IRIS).
  • Contributions: The spacecraft bus, S-band SAR electronics, launch vehicle, and mission operations are provided by ISRO’s U R Rao Satellite Centre, while the L-band SAR and various other essential components are provided by NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL).

Key milestones achieved

  • Thermal Vacuum Testing: In Bengaluru, the crucial system-level test known as thermal vacuum testing was accomplished with success. This test makes sure the spacecraft can function properly in extremely hot environments.
  • Testing for electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) and electromagnetic interference (EMI) has also been satisfactorily completed.
  • Future Vibration testing: In order to replicate the challenging launch environment, vibration testing will be carried out in the upcoming phase. In this test, which simulates a rocket launch, the satellite will be subjected to strong shocks.

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