NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR)
Context:
NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR) is anticipated to be launched in the first quarter of 2024.
Relevance:
GS-03 (Space technology)
Main Highlights:
- NISAR is slated for launch aboard India’s GSLV. The data acquired from NISAR will be particularly valuable for examining land ecosystems, solid earth deformation, mountain and polar cryosphere dynamics, as well as sea ice and coastal oceans at both regional and global scales.
- ISRO’s S-band Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) has been integrated with NASA’s L-band SAR at JPL/NASA. The integrated L & S band SAR is presently undergoing testing with the satellite at URSC, Bangalore, with the active involvement of NASA/JPL officials.
- In a collaborative effort, ISRO and NASA have established a Joint Working Group (JWG) focused on human spaceflight cooperation. They are exploring collaborative avenues in areas such as radiation impact studies, micrometeorite and orbital debris shield studies, as well as space health and medicine aspects.
- Furthermore, ISRO is investigating the feasibility of leveraging NASA’s Hypervelocity Impact Test (HVIT) facility for conducting tests related to the protection shields against Micrometeoroid and orbital debris (MMOD) for the Gaganyaan module.
