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Science & Tech.
Mahesh

08/02/23 09:15 AM IST

NISAR

In News
  • The NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR) will observe nearly the entire planet every 12 days, night and day, in all weather conditions.
  • Likely to be launched into near-polar orbit in 2024, it will also help scientists gain a better understanding of the Earth’s crus.
About NISAR
  • The satellite consists of both L-band and S-band synthetic aperture radar (SAR) instruments, which makes it a dual-frequency imaging radar satellite.
  • While NASA has provided the L-band radar, GPS, a high-capacity solid-state recorder to store data, and a payload data subsystem, ISRO has provided the S-band radar, the GSLV launch system, and spacecraft.
  • It has a large 39-foot stationary antenna reflector made of a gold-plated wire mesh, the reflector will be used to focus “the radar signals emitted and received by the upward-facing feed on the instrument structure”.
  • It will use a signal-processing technique called interferometric synthetic aperture radar, or InSAR, to observe changes in Earth’s land and ice surfaces down to fractions of an inch.
  • The instrument’s imaging swath — the width of the strip of data collected along the length of the orbit track — is greater than 240 kilometers
Background
  • In 2014, ISRO and NASA signed an agreement to build the 2,800 kg satellite.
  • According to the NASA website, NISAR will help scientists to gain a better comprehension of the speed and impact of climate change.
  • It will also collect data aimed at helping people across the world manage natural resources and hazards better.
Benefits
  • The satellite will help researchers detect slow-moving variations of a land surface that can precede earthquakes, landslides, and volcanic eruptions.
  • Data about such movements could help communities prepare for natural hazards such as the Joshimath land subsidence.
  • Measurements of melting sea ice and ice sheets will improve understanding of the pace and impacts of climate change, including sea level rise.
  • The mission will provide important earth science data related to ecosystems, Earth’s surface, natural hazards, sea level rise, and the cryosphere.
Source- The Hndu

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