NISAR Satellite Launch: The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is set to launch the NISAR satellite in March 2025 using the GSLV Mk-II rocket. This 2.8-tonne satellite is a collaborative project between India and the United States, initiated in 2009.

What is NISAR?: NISAR stands for NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar. Unlike traditional satellites, it uses Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) technology to emit radio signals that bounce back to generate detailed images, allowing it to operate in darkness, adverse weather, and dense vegetation.

Development and Collaboration: Initially, NASA sought a partnership with Germany's DLR but later turned to ISRO due to scheduling conflicts and budget cuts. The NISAR mission was officially launched in 2014.

Monitoring Capabilities: NISAR can detect subtle changes in the Earth's surface, aiding in infrastructure assessment and climate change research. It has a 12-day revisit cycle, a swath width of 240 km, and a resolution of 10 meters.

Technical Features: The satellite employs digital beam forming (DBF) and dual-frequency radars—L-band from NASA and S-band from ISRO. The L-band penetrates vegetation and ice, while the S-band offers high-resolution images.

Data Collection: NISAR is expected to generate approximately 26 terabits of data daily, revolutionizing Earth observation, disaster management, and climate research.