A new earth observation satellite, the fruit of a major collaboration between NASA and the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO), will soon provide a complete 3D view of the land and ice of our planet. The Nisar satellite, whose launch is scheduled for July 30 or later, is designed to meet essential challenges in disaster management, agriculture and climatology, by mapping changes on the surface of the earth to a few thumb fractions.
One of the main Nisar missions is to provide information likely to save lives by improving natural risks monitoring. The advanced satellite radar system will be able to detect subtle field movements which could point out the imminence of a volcanic eruption or a landslide. These data will also help managers assess the integrity of essential infrastructure, such as dams and dikes, detecting any dangerous field movement nearby.
Nisar will also offer a revolutionary tool to understand the effects of climate change. It will provide an unprecedented coverage of Antarctica, which will allow scientists to follow the cast iron speed of glaciers and ice caps. While sweeping the earth twice every 12 days, the satellite will establish a detailed statement of the changes in the forests, the wetlands and the permafrost of the planet, thus providing vital information for the monitoring of world ecosystems.
The mission will also have a direct impact on the response to disasters and food security. Its ability to see through the clouds and the rain, day and night, will allow teams to react better to hurricanes and floods. The satellite double radar system is also designed to monitor crop growth and soil humidity, which will help improve agricultural management and food supply forecasts.
