NASA-ISRO Mission: How Earth Satellite NISAR will see the Earth?

The NISAR satellite, a joint mission of NASA and the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO), is about to be launched, marking a new era of Earth observation. By leveraging advanced synthetic aperture radar (SAR) technology, NISAR will provide high-resolution images of the Earth’s surface, tracking subtle changes such as ground motion, glacier shifts and deforestation with extremely high accuracy.

This game-changing mission will allow scientists to monitor nearly all of Earth’s solid surface twice every 12 days. Not only can it provide real-time data on natural disasters such as earthquakes, it can also help track environmental changes and provide valuable insights into climate change and disaster management.

Source: NASA/Caltech Jet Propulsion Laboratory

Why is NISAR synthetic aperture radar (SAR) technology so powerful?

NISAR’s SAR technology is key to its incredible accuracy. Traditional radar satellites often face resolution challenges due to antenna size.

However, SAR allows NISAR to provide detailed images of the Earth’s surface without the need for extremely large antennas.

feature

traditional radar

NISAR and SAR

Antenna size

Large and difficult to deploy and operate in space

Compact, deployable 39-foot (12-meter) antenna

solve

Limited by antenna size

High-resolution images down to fractions of an inch

Data processing

Lower accuracy due to limited data collection

Use Doppler shift to refine and focus images

Mapping frequency

Not too often

Updates provided every 12 days worldwide

Source: Education Future Technology

What are the benefits of SAR?

  • High-resolution imaging: Capture ultra-detailed images of the Earth’s surface.
  • Day and Night Capability: Continuous operation regardless of time or weather.
  • Penetrate clouds: Penetrate clouds and detect changes even in adverse weather conditions.

How will NISAR’s SAR technology change Earth science?

NISAR’s SAR system is designed to collect large amounts of data to reveal changes in the Earth’s surface. Here’s how it works:

  1. Radar Pulses: NISAR emits microwave pulses toward the Earth’s surface.
  2. Signal echoes: When pulses hit a surface, they bounce back to the satellite, providing valuable data.
  3. Data processing: The Doppler shift in the return signal can be fine-tuned to create a high-resolution image of the surface.

What are some applications where NISAR can help track Earth’s dynamic systems?

NISAR will track changes in the Earth’s surface in extremely detailed detail, providing data on:

  • Natural disasters: Monitor earthquakes, tsunamis and volcanic activity.
  • Glacier Movement: Observe changes in glaciers and ice sheets to understand climate change.
  • Deforestation and ecosystem change: Mapping forest growth and loss, and tracking floodplains.

The following are the main applications that NISAR will support:

application

What NISAR will track

scientific significance

earthquake

Ground deformation before and after earthquake

Helps understand fault movement and assess earthquake risk

glacier movement

Changes in glaciers and ice sheets

Essential for studying ice dynamics and its impact on sea level

Forest changes

Deforestation and forest growth

Essential for monitoring biodiversity and environmental health

Flooding and land transfer

Mapping changes in land elevation and water movement

Improving flood management and disaster response strategies

Why will NISAR change Earth science forever?

NISAR will provide an unprecedented level of monitoring, giving scientists the tools to study Earth’s dynamic systems in real time. By imaging large areas at high resolution, satellites will:

  • Detecting small changes in the earth’s surface
  • Help monitor and predict natural disasters
  • Provide critical data for disaster preparedness, recovery and environmental protection

What role do NASA and ISRO play in using NISAR to advance Earth science?

The collaboration between NASA and ISRO is a landmark achievement, merging decades of expertise from both space agencies. It opens up a world of possibilities for international cooperation in combating climate change, monitoring natural disasters and supporting global sustainable development efforts.

As we face climate change and an increase in natural disasters, the data collected by NISAR is critical for developing our response strategies and understanding the impacts of environmental change.