Satellite collaboration between the US and India, scheduled for launch on July 30, aims to track Earth's terrain and predict natural disasters.
The NISAR (NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar) Earth-observation satellite, a joint venture between NASA and the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), is set to revolutionise disaster response and prevention with its advanced dual radar technology.
Disaster Response and Prevention Roles
NISAR's primary role lies in monitoring and predicting natural hazards, providing crucial data for disaster management.
- Natural Hazard Monitoring:
- By identifying slow movements along fault lines, NISAR can help predict potential earthquakes, aiding in disaster preparedness [1][3].
- The satellite can also monitor volcanic activity, offering early warnings for potential eruptions [1][3].
- In addition, NISAR's ability to monitor land changes could indirectly support wildfire prediction and management by tracking vegetation health and moisture levels [2].
- Infrastructure Integrity:
- NISAR monitors land motion around critical infrastructure like levees, aqueducts, and dams, helping managers assess the integrity of these structures and prepare for potential failures [1][3].
- Data Availability:
- All NISAR data will be accessible to various users, ensuring that information is available for disaster response and planning within 1-2 days of observation, and within hours during emergencies [4].
- Advanced Radar Technology:
- NISAR uses a dual radar system (L-band and S-band) to capture high-resolution images of Earth's surface, detecting subtle changes even in centimeter-scale movements. This capability allows for precise monitoring of natural and human-induced changes, enhancing disaster preparedness [1][2][3].
Overall Contribution
NISAR significantly enhances disaster response and prevention by providing detailed insights into Earth's surface changes, enabling more accurate predictions and timely interventions. Its advanced radar system and comprehensive data collection will aid in managing a wide range of natural hazards and support sustainable development.
The first full-frame science images are expected by day 65. Deepak Putrevu, the co-lead of the ISRO science team at the Space Applications Centre in Ahmedabad, has stated that NISAR packs a wide range of science toward studying the changing planet and the impacts of natural hazards.
NASA has invested $1.2 billion in the mission, funding the L-band radar, the antenna, and its boom. The partnership is for the launch of the NISAR Earth-observation satellite, scheduled for July 30. NISAR will launch on board an Indian Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV) rocket from ISRO's Satish Dhawan Space Center.
The dual-frequency band radar of NISAR consists of an L-band radar built by NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) and an S-band radar provided by ISRO. The giant 12-meter antenna of NISAR gives it special powers of high resolution through synthetic aperture radar.
Despite the Indian contingent not being present at the press conference due to time zone differences, the excitement about the science that NISAR will produce and the impact it will have on people around the world is shared by both NASA and ISRO. Edelstein, the project scientist, has expressed his enthusiasm for the project. The statement from Deepak Putrevu was made in January.
- The high-resolution images captured by NISAR's dual radar system (L-band and S-band) will offer insights into changes on Earth's surface, including natural hazards and human-induced changes, contributing to improved disaster preparedness [1][2][3].
- The advanced technology of NISAR extends beyond disaster response and prevention, as it also contributes to scientific research, particularly in environmental-science and space-and-astronomy, studying the changing planet and the impacts of natural hazards [5].
- The collaboration between NASA and the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) in the development of NISAR has led to technology advancements, such as the use of synthetic aperture radar in the giant 12-meter antenna, which provides NISAR with special powers to monitor the environment [4].
- As space technology continues to evolve, initiatives like NISAR demonstrate the importance of international partnerships in the application of innovative technology, aimed at improving our understanding of the environment, predicting and preventing natural disasters, and supporting sustainable development [6].
