NASA is set to launch a new Earth-mapping satellite, in partnership with the Indian Space Research Organization, which promises to revolutionize our understanding of the planet and provide valuable insights into the impacts of natural disasters. The satellite, named NISAR (NASA-ISRO SAR), is set to launch in early 2024 and will operate for a period of three years. The satellite will be the first radar imaging satellite to use dual frequencies (the L and S microwave bands), enabling it to map the Earth’s crust in unprecedented detail, detecting changes as small as 1cm across.
This level of detail will allow NISAR to observe even subtle nuances of earthquakes, tsunamis, and other natural disasters, as well as monitor long-term processes such as the evolution of the Earth’s crust, ecosystem disruptions, and ice sheet collapses. The satellite will provide global coverage every 12 days, making time-based imagery more practical, and the mission team is hoping to make the data readily available to the public in just one to two days, with the ability to deliver it within hours in an emergency.
With an estimated cost of $1.5 billion, NISAR is set to be the most expensive Earth imaging satellite to date, but the investment is expected to be well worth it. The satellite’s data could help governments react to and prepare for natural disasters, as well as improve humanity’s understanding of climate change and threats to food security. NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory is holding a question and answer session today (February 3rd) at 5 PM Eastern to discuss NISAR and answer any questions that people may have about the spacecraft.
The ability to access data at such a high resolution and with such frequency has the potential to be a game-changer for scientists and governments alike. The insights provided by NISAR will be invaluable in our efforts to understand and mitigate the effects of natural disasters, as well as our understanding of the planet as a whole. With the launch of NISAR just around the corner, we can expect to see a wealth of new information and insights into the Earth’s crust and the impacts of natural disasters in the years to come.
