ISRO unveils fresh images of NISAR mission in collaboration with NASA ahead of 2024 launch

ISRO has unveiled fresh images of the NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR) satellite, an ambitious project scheduled to launch in January 2024. The collaborative effort between NASA and ISRO is set to initiate a mission from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC) SHAR, situated on the scenic southeast coast of India.

The NISAR observatory is slated to be launched into orbit using ISRO's Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV), representing a noteworthy achievement in the realms of space exploration and Earth observation.

The launch sequence, an intricately choreographed series of actions, will seamlessly transition the observatory from its terrestrial enclosure within the launch vehicle fairing to its designated position in Earth's orbit. This pivotal phase concludes with the successful deployment of solar arrays and the establishment of two-way communication with ground control.

The initial three months post-launch are dedicated to commissioning, also known as in-orbit checkout (IOC). This critical period involves a meticulous assessment of the observatory's preparedness for scientific activities. The commissioning phase is systematically segmented into sub-phases, encompassing the examination of Isro's engineering systems and JPL's engineering payload during the initial checkout, followed by spacecraft and instrument checkouts.