What Is NISAR, Joint Satellite Developed By ISRO And NASA?

India on Wednesday received NISAR, an Earth observation satellite which has been jointly developed by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).

The satellite, NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR), was carried by a US Air Force C-17 cargo plane from California to Bengaluru.

"NISAR will observe nearly all of Earth’s land and ice surfaces twice every 12 days, measuring movements in extremely fine detail,” NASA said, adding that the satellite will survey forests and agricultural regions to help scientists understand carbon exchange between plants and the atmosphere.

NASA termed NISAR’s payload to be the most “advanced radar system ever launched as part of a NASA science mission”.

"Touchdown in Bengaluru! @ISRO receives NISAR (@NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar) on a @USAirforce C-17 from@NASAJPL in California, setting the stage for final integration of the Earth observation satellite, a true symbol of #USIndia civil space collaboration," US Consulate General Chennai wrote in a tweet.

NASA said that NISAR will help researchers understand Earth sciences better on topics like landslides, groundwater loss and the carbon cycle with “its trove of data”.