An unprecedented collaboration between the United States’ National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is preparing to launch a satellite that has the potential to alter Earth monitoring and catastrophe planning. The highly anticipated NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR) satellite is planned to measure changes on the Earth’s surface, ice sheets, glaciers, sea ice, and vegetation with remarkable precision, down to fractions of an inch. NISAR Satellite, which uses new radar technology, promises to provide comprehensive insights into dynamic Earth processes, allowing scientists to track the movement of nearly all land and ice-covered areas every 12 days.

Source: NASA

Unprecedented Earth Monitoring Capabilities

NISAR’s cutting-edge radar systems, which include L-band radar from NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) and S-band radar from ISRO, make it the first satellite to use dual-band radar technology. This capacity enables the satellite to collect data at any time of day or night, even through dense clouds with previously limited optical sensors. The L-band radar is very effective at piercing dense vegetation, making it excellent for monitoring locations such as volcanic zones or fault lines hidden behind forest cover.

NISAR Satellite data will be combined with information from other satellites to produce a multidimensional image of Earth’s surface motion, both horizontally and vertically. This method is expected to improve our understanding of the mechanics of the Earth’s crust and help identify places prone to earthquakes, landslides, and volcanic eruptions. While NISAR cannot anticipate earthquakes, it can help scientists identify areas where seismic activity is more likely and segments of fault lines that are gradually shifting or remain static but may be prone to rapid adjustments.

NISAR will extensively monitor high-risk zones in well-studied areas such as California. However, its most significant influence may be felt in less-monitored locations, where it could identify new earthquake-prone zones or improve our understanding of existing fault lines. For example, the Himalayas, an area with high seismic risk, stand to benefit substantially from NISAR’s continuous monitoring, which will give crucial data on prospective dangers. “The Himalayas have seen significant earthquakes in the past, and NISAR will provide unprecedented insights into these risks,” said Sreejith K. M., ISRO’s Earth science head on the project.

Also Read: COP29 First Day: All You Need To Know

Supporting Infrastructure Stability and Disaster Response

NISAR’s technology will help stabilize infrastructure and respond to disasters, in addition to monitoring natural processes. Resource managers will be able to evaluate the condition of crucial structures, including levees, aqueducts, and other vital infrastructure. Continuous monitoring can detect shifts or vulnerabilities in infrastructure, allowing for more targeted inspections and preventative maintenance. According to JPL’s Cathleen Jones, NISAR’s applications lead, this allows authorities to focus on portions that show signs of movement rather than undertaking costly and time-consuming examinations of complete structures.

NISAR satellite data can be critical to response operations during a disaster, such as an earthquake. For example, in areas like California’s Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta, where thousands of miles of levees protect communities from floods, NISAR will aid in rapidly identifying vulnerable parts following a disaster, allowing for more effective response and repairs. Such data-driven insights could significantly protect lives, property, and essential resources.

This collaboration between NASA and ISRO demonstrates the value of multinational alliances in addressing shared global concerns. NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, which provides advanced radar and scientific instruments, leads the US component of the mission, while ISRO’s U R Rao Satellite Centre in Bengaluru manages the spacecraft bus and launch services. The satellite, which underwent three weeks of intensive testing in a space-like thermal vacuum chamber in Bengaluru, proved durable in harsh conditions.

The NISAR mission is set to launch early next year from India’s Satish Dhawan Space Centre. The satellite will quickly enter low Earth orbit atop ISRO’s Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle Mark II. As NISAR begins its mission, it promises to expand our understanding of Earth’s changing landscapes and provide essential data that can improve disaster preparedness and the protection of critical infrastructure worldwide. This unprecedented relationship between the United States and India demonstrates how merging expertise may lead to significant advances in science and technology for global benefit.

Also Read: COP29 Approves Global Carbon Market Framework Under Paris Agreement Article 6