Nasa is preparing to unveil details of a groundbreaking Earth-observation mission developed in partnership with the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). The mission, known as NISAR (NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar), is designed to offer an unparalleled three-dimensional view of the planet’s surface, with applications ranging from disaster response to climate monitoring.A press conference has been scheduled for 12pm EDT on Monday, 21 July, where NASA will preview the mission’s key scientific objectives and technological capabilities. The event will be streamed live by NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory via X (formerly Twitter), Facebook and YouTube. The satellite itself is set to launch no earlier than late July from ISRO’s Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, on India’s southeastern coast.
High-resolution radar to monitor a changing planet
The NISAR satellite is a flagship collaboration between NASA and ISRO, equipped with dual-frequency radar instruments operating in L-band (24 cm) and S-band (9 cm). It will measure Earth’s dynamic surfaces, including changes in ecosystems, ice mass loss, and the effects of natural hazards, with a spatial resolution between 3 and 10 metres depending on mode.Orbiting at an altitude of 747 km with a 12-day repeat cycle, the satellite will observe the entire Earth’s land and ice-covered surfaces every 6 days on average, ensuring high-frequency and consistent monitoring. The mission is expected to last a minimum of three years, with enough onboard consumables for up to five.According to NASA, “NISAR will help protect communities by providing a dynamic, three-dimensional view of Earth in unprecedented detail and detecting the movement of land and ice surfaces down to the centimetre.”
Real-world applications and global access to data
The NISAR mission is designed not only for scientific research but also for real-world applications. Data will be freely and openly available, providing governments, researchers, and planners with critical information for water resource monitoring, infrastructure stability, sea level rise, and natural disaster preparedness.The mission’s Utilisation Plan defines “applications” as direct engagement with a broad stakeholder community. This includes supporting activities that educate users about synthetic aperture radar (SAR) data, working with end-users to develop actionable information products, and facilitating the integration of NISAR data into operational decision-making workflows.Engagement opportunities include application workshops, working groups, and early adoption programmes through a Community of Practice. Through these initiatives, the NISAR mission aims to demonstrate the broad societal value of Earth observation and support proactive planning based on reliable and regularly updated data.
