New Delhi: Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) of USA, have been working together to build a state-of-the-art Earth observation satellite. The satellite, NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR), will work along the lines of the European Space Agency’s (ESA) Sentinel 1.
India launched its first indigenous radar imaging satellite only in 2012. This enabled Earth observation during day and night in all types of weather. In 2014, during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the US, ISRO and NASA signed a memorandum to work together on a new radar satellite for Earth observation. A Joint Steering Group for NISAR held its first meeting in 2015.
Both agencies will be putting their best foot forwards and combining their strengths. NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) will be responsible for the L-band SAR for the satellite. Additionally, it will provide the Global Positioning System (GPS) and a data recorder. On the other hand, ISRO will spearhead the SAR’s S-band. Further, it is ISRO’s responsibility to provide for the spacecraft bus, data transmission system, integration and testing, and launch using the GSLV. ISRO will also be responsible for the on-orbit operations.
