Sriharikota: The NISAR (NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar) satellite, jointly developed by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and the US space agency NASA, is scheduled for launch on July 30 from Sriharikota.

Developed at a cost of approximately Rs 12,750 crore (USD 1.5 billion), the NISAR satellite is the world's most expensive Earth observation satellite. Weighing 2,392 kg, it will be launched aboard ISRO's GSLV-F16 rocket at 5:40 pm from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre.

Equipped with cutting-edge synthetic aperture radar (SAR) technology, NISAR will provide high-resolution, inch-by-inch imagery of the Earth every 12 days, enabling 3D mapping on a global scale. The satellite is expected to play a significant role in tracking and analysing natural disasters and environmental changes including earthquakes, tsunamis, volcanic activity, landslides, glacier dynamics, and deforestation.

While NASA has contributed the L-band radar, GPS system, a high-capacity data recorder, and other avionics, ISRO has developed the S-band radar and will handle the launch operations.

Originally slated for launch in 2024, the mission was postponed due to development delays. With all systems now ready, the launch marks a major milestone in Indo-US space cooperation.

Union Minister of State for Science and Technology Jitendra Singh said NISAR would bolster disaster management efforts and enhance global environmental monitoring. “This is a historic achievement that will realise Prime Minister Modi's vision of India contributing to global welfare,” he said.

Data collected by NISAR will be shared with the international community, advancing earth sciences worldwide.