NISAR | General Awareness & Knowledge - Bank Exams PDF Download

Introduction

NISAR is a collaborative Earth-observing mission jointly developed by NASA and the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO). It involves the use of two specialized radars to enhance the mission's ability to monitor a wider range of changes on Earth's surface, detecting movements as small as 0.4 inches over areas roughly half the size of a tennis court.

Key Information about NISAR

• NISAR is a satellite about the size of an SUV, being developed in partnership between the United States and India's space agencies.
• The agreement for this collaboration was signed in September 2014, with NASA contributing one radar, high-rate communication equipment for scientific data, GPS receivers, and a payload data subsystem. ISRO's responsibilities include providing the spacecraft, a second radar (S-band radar), the launch vehicle, and launch services.
• The satellite is scheduled to be launched in 2022 from the Satish Dhawan Space Center in India, and it will orbit the Earth in a near-polar path, capturing global imagery every 12 days over a three-year mission period. Its focus is on observing land, ice sheets, and sea ice to provide an unprecedented view of the planet.
• NISAR's primary goal is to gather global data on the causes and effects of changes in Earth's land surface using advanced radar imaging.
• The mission and partnership were initiated in response to the National Academy of Science's 2007 survey, which identified key Earth science priorities, including ecosystems, Earth's crust deformation, and cryospheric sciences.

Applications of NISAR

• Environmental Monitoring: NISAR is optimized to study hazards and global environmental changes. It observes Earth's surface, tracking everything from small crustal movements to volcanic eruptions, providing vital information about biomass, natural hazards, sea-level rise, and groundwater.
• Resource Management: The data collected by NISAR can help people worldwide better manage natural resources and mitigate hazards. It offers insights into the effects and pace of climate change and enhances our understanding of Earth's crust.
• Disaster Response: NISAR's global and rapid coverage is crucial for disaster response. It provides data to assess and mitigate damage quickly, aiding in damage estimation and guiding ground inspections.

Significance in India-US Relations

• Space Cooperation: Space cooperation between India and the United States has gained prominence, with NISAR being a prime example. The joint statement of the India-U.S. 2+2 strategic dialogue in October 2020 highlighted the importance of collaboration in the space domain, particularly in Space Situational Awareness (SSA).
• Space Situational Awareness: SSA is vital for ensuring safe, secure, and sustainable use of outer space. Both nations recognize the significance of sharing SSA data to safeguard their space assets, which are critical for social, economic, and military functions.
• Satellite Navigation (SatNav): India and the U.S. have expanded their collaboration in Satellite Navigation, further enhancing disaster preparedness and global natural resource management.
• Weather Systems: Additionally, the two nations share a deep cooperative relationship in weather systems and applications, heavily reliant on space technologies.

In conclusion, NISAR represents a groundbreaking collaboration between NASA and ISRO, with far-reaching implications for environmental monitoring, disaster response, and international space cooperation. This mission not only advances our understanding of Earth's dynamic processes but also strengthens India-US relations in the realm of space exploration.