NISAR Mission Countdown: Preview to launch

NISAR, an Earth-observing satellite and the first collaborative mission between NASA and ISRO (Indian Space Research Organisation), is preparing for launch.

Equipped with a powerful radar system, NISAR will track changes in Earth’s land and ice surfaces to improve understanding of natural hazards, agriculture, and the movement of ice sheets and glaciers. The satellite is targeting liftoff in July from ISRO’s Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, along India’s southeastern coast.

Using synthetic aperture radar (SAR) – with one radar instrument from ISRO and another from NASA – NISAR will scan nearly all of the planet’s land and ice every 12 days. The detailed data it collects will help scientists monitor Earth’s dynamic surface, from gradual shifts to sudden events.

Join our panel of experts to discuss the upcoming mission:
● Nicky Fox, associate administrator, Science Mission Directorate, NASA Headquarters
● Karen St. Germain, director, Earth Science Division, NASA Headquarters
● Wendy Edelstein, deputy project manager, NISAR, NASA JPL
● Paul Rosen, project scientist, NISAR, NASA JPL