India and the United States are set to launch a joint microwave remote sensing satellite for Earth observation in the first quarter of next year. The satellite, named NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR), will be launched onboard India’s GSLV.
NISAR will provide data on land ecosystems, deformation of solid earth, mountain and polar cryosphere, sea ice, and coastal oceans at regional to global scales. The data will be used for research and applications in areas such as climate change, disaster management, and water resource management.
The integration of India’s S-band SAR with NASA’s L-band SAR at JPL(Jet Propulsion Laboratory)/NASA is complete, and the integrated L & S band SAR is currently undergoing testing with the satellite at URSC, Bangalore with participation of NASA/JPL officials.
A partnership for the planet 🌏
JPL Director Laurie Leshin recently visited @isro colleagues in India, where the #NISAR satellite is coming together. Set to launch in 2024, this powerful spacecraft will study Earth’s dynamic land and ice-covered surfaces. https://t.co/1O1CS1a8aK pic.twitter.com/7msy384uUQ
— NASA JPL (@NASAJPL) November 22, 2023
During a meeting with Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh, NASA Administrator Mr Bill Nelson urged Dr Jitendra Singh to expedite the program related to India’s first astronaut aboard a NASA rocket to the International Space Station (ISS). US Ambassador to India, Mr Eric Garcetti, was also present in the meeting.
During Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the US earlier this year, the two sides agreed to launch a two-week joint India-US Space flight next year. NASA is identifying an opportunity in the Private Astronaut Mission for Indian Astronauts in 2024.
Mr Nelson, himself an astronaut who flew with the crew of the 24th Space Shuttle flight onboard ‘Columbia’ in 1986, lauded ISRO for having launched 231 satellites from the US, onboard Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV).
ISRO and NASA explore cooperation in human spaceflight
ISRO and NASA have formed a Joint Working Group (JWG) on Human spaceflight cooperation and are exploring cooperation in radiation impact studies, micro meteorite & orbital debris shield studies, and space health and medicine aspects.
ISRO is also exploring the feasibility of utilizing NASA’s Hypervelocity Impact Test (HVIT) facility for testing Gaganyaan module Micrometeoroid and orbital debris (MMOD) protection shields.
Dr Jitendra Singh said India has a booming Space sector Startups since PM Modi initiated reforms in the Space sector. Within a short span of just about four years, the number of Space Startups has gone up from a mere single digit to over 150, with some of the earlier ones having turned into lucrative entrepreneurs.