NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR) mission

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From ISRO's updated page.
NASA-ISRO SAR (NISAR) Satellite

Figure: Artist’s impression of NISAR in orbit

NASA-ISRO SAR (NISAR) is a Low Earth Orbit (LEO) observatory being jointly developed by NASA and ISRO. NISAR will map the entire globe in 12 days and provide spatially and temporally consistent data for understanding changes in Earth’s ecosystems, ice mass, vegetation biomass, sea level rise, ground water and natural hazards including earthquakes, tsunamis, volcanoes and landslides. NISAR. It carries L and S dual band Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR), which operates with Sweep SAR technique to achieve large swath with high resolution data. The SAR payloads mounted on Integrated Radar Instrument Structure (IRIS) and the spacecraft bus are together called an observatory. Jet Propulsion Laboratories and ISRO are realizing the observatory which shall not only meet the respective national needs but also will feed the science community with data encouraging studies related to surface deformation measurements through repeat-pass InSAR technique.

This flagship partnership would have major contributions from both agencies. NASA is responsible for providing the L-Band SAR payload system in which the ISRO supplied S-Band SAR payload and both these SAR systems will make use of a large size (about 12m diameter) common unfurl able reflector antenna . In addition, NASA would provide engineering payloads for the mission, including a Payload Data Subsystem, High-rate Science Downlink System, GPS receivers and a Solid State Recorder.

This would be the first dual frequency radar imaging mission in L-Band & S-Band using an advanced Sweep SAR technique to provide L & S band space-borne SAR data with high repeat cycle, high resolution, and larger swath, with capability of full-polar metric and interferometric modes of operation. It will provide a means of disentangling and clarifying spatially and temporally complex phenomena, ranging from ecosystem disturbances, to ice sheet collapse and natural hazards including earthquakes, tsunamis, volcanoes, and landslide This is expected to provide impetus to the fast maturing microwave remote sensing applications in geosciences. The precision interferometric orbits of the mission will enable in mapping few millimetres of deformations in the land surface. The selection of lower frequency bands will cater to the need for better characterization of vegetation, which is vital for global carbon stock estimation and monitoring of carbon fluxes from vegetation. Similarly, the selection of L- and S-band frequencies will enable characterizing targets beneath tree canopy and sub-surface features due to differential penetration of the signals in two frequency NISAR studying concepts for a Synthetic Aperture Radar mission is to determine Earth change in three disciplines: ecosystems (vegetation and the carbon cycle), deformation (solid Earth studies), and cryosphere sciences (primarily as related to climatic drivers and effects on sea level NISAR will acquire data over the Indian Coasts and monitor annual changes in the bathymetry along the deltaic regions. The shoreline and the erosion accretion also will be monitored. The NISAR mission will observe sea ice characteristics over the seas surrounding India’s Antarctic polar stations, can be used to detect the marine oil spill and disseminate the spill location during accidental oil seepage for preventive measures.

The NISAR observatory carries a 12m wide deployable mesh reflector mounted onto a deployable 9m boom developed by JPL which shall be used by both-JPL-NASA developed L-Band SAR payload system and ISRO developed S-Band SAR payload. The IRIS hosts the S-SAR and L-SAR tiles along with their electronics and data handling systems. The spacecraft incorporates all the attitude and orbit control elements, power systems, thermal management system. JPL also will provide the LSAR Data Handling system, High-rate Science data Downlink System, GPS receivers and a Solid State Recorder. ISRO is responsible for providing the SSAR data handling system, High rate downlink system, spacecraft bus systems, the GSLV launch system and Mission Operations Related Services. A perfect blend of two cultures and a creation by two sets of craftsmen is what NISAR is.

NISAR is being developed in three different phases as indicated below. The SIT-2 phase during which the SAR payloads and the Engineering Systems shall be independently developed in their respective soils. SIT-3 phase is when the SAR payload along with other related systems will get integrated to the Radar Instrument Structure and tested at JPL. Parallel activities of the spacecraft systems realization and testing is carried out at ISRO. The subsequent activities of integrating IRIS with the spacecraft and evaluating it as observatory is carried out at ISRO. This phase is called the SIT-4 phase which is the on-going phase now. The IRIS is ready to be shipped from JPL and spacecraft is getting ready to receive its counterpart. The SIT-4 testing phase is going to be very elaborate and critical as the performance evaluation of the entire observatory is planned during this phase. The NISAR observatory shall be launched from Indian Soil in the first quarter of year 2024 and the science community is surely to benefit from the data generated.

MISSION PHASE
LAUNCH PHASE

The NISAR Observatory will be launched from Satish Dhawan Space Centre(SDSC) SHAR, Sriharikota on the southeast coast of the Indian peninsula, on the GSLV expendable launch vehicle contributed by ISRO. The target launch readiness date is January 2024. The launch sequence encompasses the time interval that takes the observatory from the ground, encapsulated in the launch vehicle fairing, to after separation, and ends with the completion of solar array deployment and the observatory in an Earth-pointed attitude and in two-way communication with the ground. The launch sequence is a critical event.

COMMISSIONING PHASE

The first 90 days after launch will be dedicated to commissioning, or in-orbit checkout (IOC), the objective of which is to prepare the observatory for science operations. Commissioning is divided into sub-phases of initial checkout (ISRO engineering systems and JPL engineering payload checkout), spacecraft checkout and instrument checkout. Philosophically, the sub-phases are designed as a step-by-step build up in capability to full observatory operations, beginning with the physical deployment of all deployable parts (notably the boom and radar antenna, but not including the solar arrays which are deployed during launch phase), checking out the engineering systems, turning on the radars and testing them independently and then conducting joint tests with both radars operating.

SCIENCE OPERATIONS PHASE

The science operations phase begins at the end of commissioning and extends for three years and contains all data collection required to achieve the L1 science objectives. During this phase, the science orbit will be maintained via regular maneuvers, scheduled to avoid or minimize conflicts with science observations. Extensive calibration and validation (CalVal) activities will take place throughout the first 5 months, with yearly updates of 1-month duration. The observation plan for both L- and S-band instruments, along with engineering activities (e.g., maneuvers, parameter updates, etc.), will be generated pre-launch via frequent coordination between JPL and ISRO. This plan is called the reference mission; the science observations alone within that reference mission is called the reference observation plan (ROP). The schedule of science observations will be driven by a variety of inputs, including L- and S-band target maps, radar mode tables, and spacecraft and ground-station constraints and capabilities. This schedule will be determined by JPL’s mission planning team, and the project will endeavour to fly the reference mission, which includes these science observations exactly as planned pre-launch (accommodating for small timing changes based on the actual orbit).

 

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Photos from February's send off ceremony in JPL.

 

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NISAR Utilization Programme (NISAR UP) for Indian Researchers

ISRO offers the NISAR Utilization Programme (NISAR UP), an opportunity for Indian researchers and scientists to access, analyse and interpret the data from the NASA–ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR) satellite mission.

NISAR offers vital data to observe and study Earth’s intricate processes. This cutting-edge mission involves high-resolution imaging, wide swath, precise orbit control, and short revisit periods. It aims to study ecosystems, cryosphere, solid earth science, and coastal ocean processes to address global environmental changes and natural hazards. It supports disaster response by providing rapid access to relevant data.

NISAR UP seeks project proposals from researchers, academicians, and scientists affiliated with Indian Government organizations and Government-recognized institutions, universities, and departments. The programme, offered by the Space Applications Centre (SAC)/ISRO, looks to support 3-year projects, through an open data policy, in diverse application themes, such as agriculture, forestry, hydrology, snow/glaciers, disaster management, and more, using the L & S-band SAR data from NISAR.

The focus areas include developing operational algorithms for applications in different fields, retrieval of biogeophysical parameters using NISAR and ancillary data, calibration/validation of NISAR data/science, tool development for NISAR data analysis, and value-added products/services to cater to user requirements. Selected projects will receive funding support, while non-funded projects will have access to technical support and ground validation data provided by ISRO.

Mission details, guidelines, and proposal submission formats are at here. Project proposals may be submitted by October 31, 2023. Evaluation results will be communicated by March 01, 2024.

The researchers are invited to join the Programme, leveraging NISAR data to make discoveries and create a sustainable future for our planet.

 

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Nisar Testing Gains Pace, Isro Looks At 2 Launches In Nov-Dec; Eyes On Big Missions

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is planning to launch at least two missions this month, including the in-orbit Servicer Mission and the Lunar sample return mission. These missions are part of India's goals to establish a space station by 2035 and put humans on the Moon by 2040. ISRO is also targeting November-December for two more launches, one using the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) and the other using the Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV-Mk2).

BENGALURU: Isro, which has its eyes set on multiple big missions — in-orbit Servicer Mission, Lunar sample return mission, Docking in Space (SPADEX), Mars Lander Mission to name some — following Chandrayaan-3, is looking to launch at least two missions this year.

While SPADEX is key to India’s ambitions of establishing a space station by 2035 as envisioned by the PM, lunar sample return missions will be critical in finally putting humans on Moon, for which the PM has set a 2040 goal.

The ‘lunar hop’ performed by Chandrayaan-3 lander Vikram is seen as a precursor for the sample return mission, which will still need a lot of work.

Isro chairman S Somanath told TOI: “Aside from these, there will be specific committees looking at various missions that need to be implemented as part of the goals set by the PM.”

PSLV, GSLV Launch

He added that the space agency is targetting November-December for at least two more launches, one on its workhorse, the PSLV, and the other on the GSLV-Mk2.

“The PSLV will launch the Xposat and also have POEM (PSLV Orbital Experimental Module) carrying scientific and commercial payloads onboard. We’ll announce these features soon. The GSLV will launch the Insat-3DS satellite, which is almost ready. The vibration tests have begun today (Friday),” Somanath said.

Xposat is India’s first dedicated polarimetry mission to study various dynamics of bright astronomical X-ray sources in extreme conditions, while Insat-3DS is a weather satellite built as part of the Indian National Satellite System to provide meteorological services.

NISAR Tests On

However, the GSLV-Mk2 launch is also important for Isro as it gets the launch vehicle ready for the $1.5 billion NASA-Isro Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR), a low Earth orbit (LEO) observatory being jointly developed by NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) and Isro.

“NISAR is undergoing full integrated tests. There are antenna, acoustics, full-scale tests, etc that will have to be carried out. We will be ready for launch by the first quarter of next year,” Somanath said.

Once launched — January to March 2024 — and put into the intended orbit, it will take 90 days for NISAR’s science operations to begin.

The synthetic aperture radar (SAR) payloads mounted on integrated radar instrument structure (IRIS) and the spacecraft bus are together called an observatory.

The observatory will map the entire globe in 12 days and provide spatially and temporally consistent data for understanding changes in Earth’s ecosystems, ice mass, vegetation biomass, sea-level rise, groundwater and natural hazards including earthquakes, tsunamis, volcanoes and landslides.

“It will carry L and S dual band SAR — the first dual frequency radar imaging mission in L-Band & S-Band using an advanced technique to provide space-borne SAR data with high repeat cycle, high resolution, and larger swath,” according to Isro.

 

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NISAR Completes Trial in ISRO's Compact Antenna Test Facility

www.jpl.nasa.gov

 

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NASA-ISRO SAR (NISAR) Satellite

 

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NASA and ISRO set to launch NISAR Satellite, aiming to revolutionize Earth observation

NASA and ISRO set to launch NISAR Satellite, aiming to revolutionize Earth observation

BENGALURU: When you see a piece of technology being produced and realise that this is going to go to space, it is mind-boggling, said Nicola Fox, Associate Admi

www.newindianexpress.com

 

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NASA and ISRO set to launch NISAR Satellite, aiming to revolutionize Earth observation

NASA and ISRO set to launch NISAR Satellite, aiming to revolutionize Earth observation

BENGALURU: When you see a piece of technology being produced and realise that this is going to go to space, it is mind-boggling, said Nicola Fox, Associate Admi

www.newindianexpress.com

Kab bhai kab!!!!!
Ek decade nikal gya launch la wait karte karte

When?
a decade has past waiting for launch!!

 

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NISAR further delayed to second half of 2024.

Rocket ready, but satellite tests delayed.

 

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