NISAR mission: Launching in 2025, NASA’s C-130 Hercules begins journey to India | – Times of India

The C-130 Hercules is embarking on a multi-leg journey across several continents before arriving in Bengaluru, India. NASA has confirmed that the aircraft will make several stops along the way, including March Air Reserve Base in California, to pick up the radar antenna reflector from NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL).
Covering an impressive 24,500 nautical miles and requiring nearly 80 hours of flight time, the journey includes multiple stops in the U.S., Hawaii, Guam, and the Philippines before reaching its final destination in Bengaluru.Once integrated, the NISAR satellite will help scientists monitor ecosystems, ice sheet movements, and more, with a planned launch in early 2025, pushing the boundaries of Earth observation technology.

The NISAR mission

NISAR is a satellite jointly developed by NASA and the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) to provide critical data about Earth’s surface. It will orbit the planet every 12 days, capturing detailed images that will help monitor ecosystems, ice masses, sea levels, vegetation, and natural hazards such as earthquakes and tsunamis. The satellite’s data will offer unprecedented insights into changes affecting Earth’s environment and landmasses.
Equipped with a state-of-the-art Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) system, NISAR operates on both L-band and S-band frequencies. This dual-frequency capability makes it the first radar-imaging satellite of its kind, enabling it to capture high-resolution images of vast regions of the Earth’s surface. Unlike traditional imaging systems, SAR can penetrate clouds and darkness, allowing for continuous data collection day or night and in any weather condition.

Delay and repairs in NISAR satellite

Originally, the NISAR satellite was scheduled for an earlier launch. However, a minor issue was detected in the radar antenna reflector, which led NASA to send it back to the U.S. in March for a special thermal coating. This precautionary measure ensures the reflector can withstand higher-than-expected temperatures during deployment in space. The reflector is expected to arrive in India by early November for integration into the satellite.

Final preparations and launch of the NISAR mission

Once the radar antenna reflector reaches Bengaluru, it will undergo testing and be integrated with the NISAR satellite at an ISRO facility. The spacecraft is slated for launch in February 2025 from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota. The satellite will be carried into space aboard ISRO’s Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle Mark-II (GSLV Mk-II). Once operational, NISAR will provide essential data for scientists studying environmental changes and natural hazards around the globe.
NASA took the extra step of applying a special coating to the radar antenna reflector to protect it from excessive heat during its deployment. The coating was added as a preventive measure after testing revealed the potential for higher-than-expected temperatures during flight. This ensures the reflector will function correctly, securing the success of the NISAR mission.

Global monitoring for a changing planet

The NISAR mission, a collaboration between NASA and ISRO, aims to provide unprecedented data on environmental changes and natural disasters. The satellite will use advanced radar imaging to monitor ecosystem disturbances, ice-sheet collapse, and natural hazards such as earthquakes and tsunamis. This transport mission represents a significant milestone in the NISAR project’s timeline. Once the radar antenna reflector arrives in Bengaluru, it will be reintegrated with the radar system at an ISRO facility.
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