NISAR: The Satellite That Will Watch Earth Like Never Before

Manjushree MManjushree M
2 min read

A brand-new satellite called NISAR has just launched into space — and it’s a big step for understanding our planet.

Built by NASA (USA) and ISRO (India), NISAR works like a super-powered camera that can see the Earth’s surface in incredible detail, day or night, rain or shine.

It will scan the entire planet every 12 days and help us:

  • Track melting glaciers and rising sea levels

  • Spot tiny ground movements that may warn of earthquakes

  • Monitor farms and forest changes

  • Respond faster to natural disasters

And the best part? All this data will be free for scientists everywhere, helping fight climate change, improve farming, and protect communities.

In short: NISAR is like Google Earth on steroids — built for science, safety, and the future of our planet.

The Technical Box (For the Curious)

FeatureDetails
TypeDual-frequency Synthetic Aperture Radar (L-band & S-band)
Swath Width~240 km per pass
Resolution3–10 meters
Orbit747 km sun-synchronous, revisits every 12 days
Power~6,500 watts
Data Volume~80 TB per day (open access)
Mission DurationAt least 3 years

Why it’s special:

  • Dual-frequency radar lets it see through clouds, smoke, and even vegetation.

  • Can detect millimeter-level changes in the Earth’s surface.

  • First-ever large-scale space hardware co-built by NASA and ISRO.


Why This Matters

  • Climate Change: Tracks ice loss, forest health, and land changes.

  • Safety: Detects land movements before big disasters.

  • Agriculture: Helps improve crop planning and irrigation.

  • Global Science: Free, high-quality data for researchers everywhere.


NISAR isn’t just a satellite — it’s a planet-wide watchtower, keeping an eye on our changing world so we can act before it’s too late.

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Written by

Manjushree M
Manjushree M