India–U.S. Space Ties Soar as NISAR Satellite Successfully Launched from Sriharikota

 Sriharikota, July 30 – Marking a major milestone in India–U.S. space cooperation, the NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR) satellite was successfully launched on Wednesday from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre, heralding a new era of scientific collaboration and Earth observation capability.

The advanced Earth observation satellite, jointly developed by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), lifted off at 5:40 PM IST aboard a GSLV-F16 rocket from the spaceport’s Second Launch Pad.

The mission represents a landmark moment in both space science and international diplomacy, with NISAR poised to deliver unprecedented high-resolution data on Earth’s surface dynamics—tracking changes across land, oceans, and polar ice.

Weighing 2,393 kilograms, NISAR is now in a Sun-synchronous polar orbit, equipped with dual-frequency radar systems designed to study a range of geophysical phenomena, including glacier movement, deforestation, tectonic shifts, coastline erosion, and natural disasters such as earthquakes and floods. The data gathered will support global efforts in climate monitoring, environmental protection, agricultural planning, and disaster response.

For the first time, a Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV) has been used to deploy a satellite into a Sun-synchronous orbit—an operation traditionally performed by ISRO’s Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV). This technical leap underscores the growing versatility of India's launch vehicle fleet.

The NISAR mission, the result of more than a decade of bilateral collaboration, brings together American and Indian engineering excellence. The satellite incorporates NASA’s L-band radar and ISRO’s S-band radar, functioning together through SweepSAR technology to produce detailed, wide-swath radar imagery of Earth every 12 days.

Following the successful deployment, the satellite has now entered its commissioning phase. ISRO stated that the first 90 days will be dedicated to the In-Orbit Checkout (IOC), during which all onboard systems will undergo rigorous testing before transitioning to full-scale scientific operations.

Under the partnership, ISRO was responsible for building the satellite platform and launch system, while NASA contributed key payload components—including the L-band radar, a high-speed data link, and a GPS receiver. NASA will also support orbit maneuvering and radar calibration operations. Both space agencies will jointly manage ground station operations and data processing throughout the mission lifecycle.

NISAR marks the 18th flight of a GSLV and the 12th mission using an indigenous cryogenic upper stage. It is also the 102nd satellite launch from Sriharikota, reinforcing the launch complex’s position as a hub of global space activity.