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The ‘NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar’ (NISAR) is an upcoming earth observation satellite resulting from the collaboration between NASA and ISRO. Set to launch in early 2024, this satellite mission aims to provide detailed insights into two crucial ecosystems: forests and wetlands.

By scanning almost all of Earth’s land and ice surfaces twice every 12 days, NISAR will collect valuable data to help researchers understand the impact of these ecosystems on the global carbon cycle and climate change. Forests and wetlands play a vital role in naturally regulating greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.

The radar technology on NISAR will allow scientists to study two key functions of these ecosystems: the capture and release of carbon. Forests store carbon in their tree wood, while wetlands store it in their organic soil layers. Disruptions to either system, whether gradual or sudden, can accelerate the release of carbon dioxide and methane into the atmosphere.

By tracking land-cover changes on a global scale, researchers can study the effects on the carbon cycle, which involves the movement of carbon between the atmosphere, land, oceans, and living organisms. This comprehensive perspective of Earth’s changing land and ice will provide valuable insights into the state of our planet.

NISAR is the first collaboration between NASA and ISRO for the development of hardware for an Earth-observing mission. The US component of the project, managed by NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), includes the L-band SAR, radar reflector antenna, deployable boom, communication subsystem, GPS receivers, solid-state recorder, and payload data subsystem.

ISRO’s U R Rao Satellite Centre in Bengaluru leads the ISRO component, providing the spacecraft bus, S-band SAR electronics, launch vehicle, and associated launch services and satellite mission operations.

The NISAR satellite mission represents a significant step forward in understanding and monitoring Earth’s ecosystems, particularly forests and wetlands. Its data will contribute to ongoing efforts to address climate change and better manage carbon levels in the atmosphere.

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