India and the United States are all set to launch their joint Earth observation satellite, NISAR, on July 30, 2025, at 5:40 PM IST. The launch will take place from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota using the GSLV F16 rocket. This will be the first major launch under ISRO Chairman V. Narayanan’s leadership using the GSLV Mk II.
NISAR is a synthetic aperture radar satellite that combines NASA’s L band radar with ISRO’s S band radar. It uses a unique dual frequency system that can detect even small changes on the Earth’s surface. The satellite will scan almost all land and ice surfaces across the globe every 12 days, regardless of weather or lighting conditions.
Weighing 2,392 kilograms, NISAR will be placed in a sun synchronous orbit about 740 kilometers above Earth. It will complete 14 orbits each day and will cover a wide area of 242 kilometers using SweepSAR technology. After launch, a 65 day phase will be used for engineering checks and calibration. Scientific operations are expected to begin around day 70, and the satellite will be fully commissioned by day 90.
With a total estimated cost of 1.5 billion dollars, NISAR is one of the most advanced Earth observation missions ever. It will help in several important areas such as disaster response, climate change monitoring, studying land movement, changes in glaciers and permafrost, and tracking ecosystems.
The launch countdown began on July 29 at 2:10 PM IST and will run for 27.5 hours leading up to the scheduled liftoff. NASA has described NISAR as carrying “the most sophisticated radar” ever built. While NASA’s share of the project is around 1.2 billion dollars, India’s contribution, including the satellite payload, rocket, and support, is under 100 million dollars.
This mission represents over ten years of partnership between ISRO and NASA and will provide consistent high quality data every 12 days, helping scientists and policymakers around the world.
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