On July 30, NASA and the Indian Space Research Organization will launch their joint Earth-observing mission, NISAR, ushering in a new era of U.S.-India space cooperation.
Built to merge L-band and S-band synthetic aperture radars, NISAR will lift off aboard ISRO's Geosynchronous Launch Vehicle from the Satish Dhawan Space Center on India's southeastern coast.
This advanced radar duo will scan nearly all of Earth's land and ice surfaces twice every 12 days, boosting our ability to track dynamic changes around the globe. Scientists will use the data to monitor terrestrial ecosystems, measure ice sheet and glacier shifts, and detect subtle tectonic movements under our feet.
More than an engineering feat, NISAR stands as a milestone in space collaboration. Earlier this year, U.S. President Donald Trump and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi hailed the mission as a highlight of pioneering civil space ties between the two nations.
Best of all, NASA plans to make NISAR's high-resolution data freely available to global users. From disaster response teams mapping flood zones to farmers optimizing crop cycles and startups building new climate tools, the applications are far-reaching.
For young innovators, environmental advocates and digital nomads, NISAR's open-data approach offers fresh perspectives on sustainability and technology. As countdown clocks tick toward July 30, eyes around the world will be on this landmark mission, and the possibilities are endless.
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NASA, ISRO to launch joint Earth-observing satellite on July 30
cgtn.com
