India-US Launch NISAR Satellite for Global Earth Monitoring

India and the United States have jointly launched the NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR) satellite from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, marking a significant milestone in bilateral space cooperation. This 2,393 kg satellite, equipped with dual-frequency radar systems from both agencies, will operate in a sun-synchronous orbit for a planned five-year mission, systematically mapping Earth's surface every 12 days to monitor environmental changes, natural disasters, and climate impacts. NISAR's advanced radar technology can detect subtle shifts in land, ice, and coastal regions, aiding in disaster preparedness, agriculture, glaciology, and resource monitoring globally. The mission underscores the strategic partnership between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Donald Trump, who have prioritized deepening cooperation in civil space exploration and human spaceflight. This launch follows earlier collaborative successes, including the recent Indian astronaut's visit to the International Space Station via a joint NASA-ISRO initiative. All data collected by NISAR will be freely available to the global scientific community, enhancing worldwide research and environmental resilience efforts.