NASA has announced that the launch of the NISAR satellite, a joint project between the United States and India, will be postponed until after February 2025. This delay is due to ongoing work on the satellite’s large deployable antenna and specific requirements related to its orbit.
Background on NISAR
NISAR stands for NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar. It is a major collaborative project between NASA and the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) aimed at improving Earth observations. The mission stands out as the first major partnership between the two space agencies, with NASA investing more than $1 billion in the project.
Launch Schedule Complications
This delay is primarily due to issues with the satellite’s antenna, which is 12 meters wide. NASA discovered that the antenna needed a special coating after discovering potential problems with temperature changes when storing the antenna. This summer, the antenna was flown in from India to make these necessary changes. NASA has also stated that the satellite should not be launched at certain times due to temperature changes caused by sunlight and shadow. These temperature changes can affect how the antenna arm unfolds. As a result, NISAR will not be able to launch between early October 2024 and early February 2025.
Scientific Objectives
Once launched, NISAR will use advanced radar to monitor various Earth phenomena such as glacier movements and volcanic activity. It is designed to map the entire Earth every 12 days, which will greatly support ongoing Earth science research.
About NISAR
Mission and Objective: NISAR (NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar) is a joint mission scheduled for 2024 to track changes on the Earth’s surface using an advanced radar system.
Capabilities and Features: NISAR can detect surface changes as small as a few centimeters and will map forests, glaciers, and natural hazards. It is the first mission to use both L-band and S-band radars.
Impact and collaboration: The satellite is expected to operate for more than three years and will help in climate change studies. NISAR highlights the international collaboration between NASA and ISRO in Earth science research.
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