NISAR Satellite Countdown Begins: Historic NASA-ISRO Joint Mission to Launch on GSLV-F16 Tomorrow

Sriharikota: The 27-hour 30-minute countdown for the NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR) satellite has officially begun at 2:10 PM IST today. The highly anticipated launch is scheduled for 5:40 PM IST tomorrow, July 30, 2025, from Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC SHAR) in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh.

This launch marks the first joint Earth observation satellite mission between Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and the United States’ NASA — a historic milestone in global space collaboration.

NISAR Mission: A Milestone in Indo-US Space Cooperation

The NISAR satellite launch 2025 mission reflects over a decade of scientific cooperation between the two agencies. NISAR is the first dual-band radar satellite, operating in both L-band and S-band frequencies, designed to monitor:

• Land surface deformation
• Glacial movements and ice loss
• Soil moisture and agricultural patterns
• Disaster impacts like earthquakes and tsunamis
• Tropical forest biomass and carbon tracking

This satellite will offer real-time data to support climate change analysis, natural disaster preparedness, and sustainable environmental planning.

First GSLV Launch Into Sun-Synchronous Orbit: A Feat for ISRO

For the first time, ISRO will use its Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV)-F16 to place a satellite into a Sun-Synchronous Polar Orbit (SSPO) — precisely at 743 km altitude and 98.4° inclination.

This demonstrates ISRO’s evolving technical capabilities in deploying large, complex payloads into non-geostationary orbits — a significant achievement in satellite launch technology.

Global Collaboration for Planetary Monitoring

NISAR is jointly developed by NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) and ISRO’s UR Rao Satellite Centre. While NASA provided the L-band radar, payload electronics, and engineering support, ISRO developed the S-band radar, satellite structure, launch vehicle, and mission operations.

Together, they aim to track dynamic changes on Earth — from earthquakes to glacier melt — with unmatched detail and frequency.

Why NISAR Matters

The NISAR mission will empower:

• Researchers and scientists with long-term data on Earth’s crust and biomass
• Governments and relief agencies with real-time information during natural disasters
• Global climate experts in carbon monitoring and policy planning
• India’s strategic growth as a space science leader and global launch provider

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