Nisar launch: Why Nasa-Isro Joint Satellite is a Big Deal

The NASA–ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR) satellite lifts off from Sriharikota on July 30, 2025

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This is the first joint Earth-observation mission by India’s ISRO and NASA, symbolizing science diplomacy and global cooperation

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NISAR is launched on India’s GSLV Mk II (F16) rocket from Satish Dhawan Space Centre into a sun‑synchronous polar orbit

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It combines NASA’s L‑band (24 cm) and ISRO’s S‑band (12 cm) SAR systems—the world’s first dual‑radar satellite

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NISAR scans nearly all land and ice surfaces twice in each 12-day cycle, orbiting Earth 14 times daily

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It is vital for tracking earthquakes, landslides, floods, tsunamis, glacier motion, soil moisture, and industrial infrastructure

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The satellite costs over $1.5 billion and was completed in the span of over 10 years

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NISAR marks a new era in climate science, disaster response, and planetary observation. A triumph of innovation, open data, & international partnership

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