Produced by: Tarun Mishra
The NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (Nisar) mission, a collaboration between NASA and the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), has experienced a delay, with its launch now expected to occur after February 2025.
The delay is primarily attributed to orbital constraints that would subject the satellite to alternating sunlight and shadows, leading to temperature fluctuations. These could potentially affect the deployment of Nisar's boom and radar antenna reflector.
The radar antenna reflector, a crucial component of the Nisar satellite, is undergoing modifications in California. A special coating is being applied to the reflector to manage temperature variations during deployment.
Once the testing in California is complete, the reflector will be sent back to India for reintegration with the radar system at ISRO’s facility in Bengaluru. This process is vital for ensuring the antenna functions correctly in space.
NASA and ISRO teams are working closely to finalize a new launch readiness date, with both agencies coordinating to address the technical challenges and ensure the mission's success.
Nisar is designed to provide advanced radar imaging of Earth's land and ice surfaces, offering critical data for studying environmental changes and natural hazards. The mission's goals are crucial for global climate science and disaster management.
Despite the delay, the mission's objectives remain significant, with Nisar expected to enhance our understanding of Earth’s dynamic systems, including ecosystem disturbances and ice-sheet collapses.
Following the completion of all technical preparations, NASA and ISRO will determine a new timeline for the Nisar mission's launch, aiming to deploy the satellite after February 2025.