NISAR (NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar)

Overview

Destination: Sun-Synchronous Orbit
Mission: Earth Science

Sun-Synchronous Orbit Satish Dhawan Space Centre Second Launch Pad Satish Dhawan Space Centre, India

The NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar, or NISAR satellite, will use advanced radar imaging to map the elevation of Earth's land and ice masses 4 to 6 times a month at resolutions of 5 to 10 meters. It is designed to observe and measure some of the planet's most complex natural processes, including ecosystem disturbances, ice-sheet collapse, and natural hazards such as earthquakes, tsunamis, volcanoes and landslides. Under the terms of the agreement, NASA will provide the mission's L band synthetic aperture radar (SAR), a high-rate telecommunication subsystem for scientific data, GPS receivers, a solid-state recorder, and a payload data subsystem. ISRO will provide the satellite bus, an S band synthetic aperture radar, the launch vehicle, and associated launch services.

Updates

Cosmic_Penguin • June 19, 2025, 12:04 p.m.

NET July 16.



Nosu • March 11, 2025, 8:55 a.m.

NET May 20


Cosmic_Penguin • May 22, 2025, 3:13 p.m.

NET June 18 per NOTAMs, TBC.


Cosmic_Penguin • June 4, 2025, 11:12 a.m.

NET July 5.


GSLV Mk II

Family:
Configuration:

Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle Mark II (GSLV Mk II) is the largest launch vehicle developed by India, which is currently in operation. This fourth generation launch vehicle is a three stage vehicle with four liquid strap-ons. The indigenously developed cryogenic Upper Stage (CUS), which is flight proven, forms the third stage of GSLV Mk II. From January 2014, the vehicle has achieved four consecutive successes.

Specifications
  • Max Stage
    3
  • Length
    49.0 m
  • Diameter
    2.8 m
  • Fairing Diameter
  • Launch Mass
    401.0 T
  • Thrust
    7420.0 kN
Family
  • Name
    GSLV Mk II
  • Family
  • Variant
  • Alias
  • Full Name
    GSLV Mk. II
Payload Capacity
  • Launch Cost
  • Low Earth Orbit
  • Geostationary Transfer Orbit
    2500.0 kg
  • Direct Geostationary
  • Sun-Synchronous Capacity

Indian Space Research Organization

Indian Space Research Organization

(ISRO)

Chairman: V. Narayanan Founded: 1969 Successes: 81 Failures: 14 Pending: 18

Agency Type:

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is the space agency of the Government of India headquartered in the city of Bangalore. Its vision is to "harness space technology for national development while pursuing space science research and planetary exploration."

INFO WIKI

Related News

SpaceNews

Antenna work delays NISAR launch

Modifications to a large deployable antenna on a joint U.S.-Indian radar spacecraft will delay its launch, likely to the second half of the year.

SpaceNews

NISAR launch slips to 2025

The launch of a joint U.S.-Indian radar imaging satellite will not take place before February 2025 because of work on the spacecraft’s antenna and orbital constraints, NASA said July 29.

NASA

NASA’s C-130 Aircraft En Route to India in Support of NISAR Mission

NASA’s globetrotting C-130 Hercules team is carrying out a cargo transport mission to Bengaluru, India, in support of the NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR) mission. The C-130 departed from NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility in Virgini…

SpaceNews

NISAR planned to launch in March 2025 after antenna repairs

A joint Earth science mission between NASA and its Indian counterpart is now scheduled to launch as soon as next March after being delayed to repair its main radar antenna. The post NISAR planned to launch in March 2025 after antenna repa…

SpaceNews

India eyes record year for space with 10 planned launches

HELSINKI — India’s space agency is planning 10 orbital launches in 2025 along with a debut commercial launch, potentially taking the country’s launch activity to double figures for the first […] The post India eyes record year for space w…

Satish Dhawan Space Centre, India

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