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Daily Current Affairs for UPSC

Nisar Mission

Syllabus- Space Technology [GS Paper-3]

Context- The NISAR satellite is all set to arrive in India as the satellite got a send-off ceremony at NASA recently.

Key Highlights 

  • The SUV-size satellite will be shipped to India in a special cargo container flight in February 2023 for a possible launch in 2024 from Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Andhra Pradesh.

NISAR

  • NISAR is an Earth-observation satellite  which stands for (NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar).
  • It is Jointly developed by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and the Indian Space Research Organisation under a partnership agreement signed in 2014.
  • It will scan the globe every 12 days over the course of its three-year mission of imaging the Earth’s land, ice sheets and sea ice in order to give an unprecedented view of the planet.
  • Features:
    • The 2,800 kilogram satellite is 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 as well as spacecraft.
    • Another component of the satellite is its large 39-foot stationary antenna reflector. 
  • The reflector will be mainly used to focus “the radar signals emitted and received by the upward-facing feed on the instrument structure.

Objectives of the Mission

  • NISAR will observe subtle changes in Earth’s surfaces, helping researchers better understand the reasons and consequences of such phenomena. 
  • It will spot warning signs of natural disasters, including volcanic eruptions, earthquakes and landslides. 
  • The satellite will measure groundwater levels, track flow rates of glaciers and ice sheets, and monitor the planet’s forest and agricultural regions, which can improve our understanding of carbon exchange.
  • ISRO will use NISAR for several purposes including agricultural mapping, and monitoring of glaciers in the Himalayas, landslide-prone areas and changes in the coastline.
  • By using synthetic aperture radar (SAR), NISAR will produce high-resolution images. 
  • SAR is capable of penetrating clouds and can collect data day and night regardless of the weather conditions.
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