ISRO and NASA Confirm Launch of NISAR Satellite for October 2026

The Mission Announcement

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and NASA have officially confirmed that the heavily anticipated NISAR satellite will launch in October 2026. The mission, initially slated for early 2024, faced delays due to required modifications in the radar's massive 12-meter deployable mesh reflector.

Background & Scientific Value

NISAR is a joint Earth-observing mission. It is the first satellite to use dual frequencies (L-band and S-band) to measure changes in our planet's surface less than a centimeter across. The satellite will scan the entire globe every 12 days. The data will be crucial for understanding climate change, tracking ice-sheet collapses, monitoring agricultural biomass, and predicting natural disasters like earthquakes and tsunamis.

Key Specifications

• Satellite Cost: Approx. $1.5 Billion (Making it one of the most expensive Earth-observation satellites ever built).
• Launch Vehicle: ISRO's GSLV Mk II.
• Launch Site: Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC), Sriharikota.
• Payloads: L-band Synthetic Aperture Radar (built by NASA) and S-band Synthetic Aperture Radar (built by ISRO).

Static GK & Related Facts

• ISRO Chairman: S. Somanath (as of 2026).
• NASA Administrator: Bill Nelson.
• Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR): An active remote sensing technology that creates 2D or 3D reconstructions of landscapes. Unlike optical sensors, SAR can "see" through clouds, rain, and darkness.