V Narayanan, Chairman of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), on Wednesday said that India is poised to stand with the developed spacefaring nations by 2040, with plans underway to achieve parity in launcher capabilities.&nbsp;Addressing the India Mobile Congress (IMC) 2025 in the national capital, ISRO Chief said, “By 2040, India will be in par with any other developed spacefaring nation in terms of launcher capability, in terms of satellite capability, in terms of scientific missions, in terms of ground equipment.”&nbsp;He credited the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi for providing vision and direction.&nbsp;Addressing the audience, Narayanan traced India's technological transformation since Independence.&nbsp;"In 1947, we had only about 84,000 telephone lines for a population of 350 million. I come from a village in Kanyakumari district, and I still remember that even in the 1990s, there was no telephone connectivity for a 5 km radius," he said, sharing a personal anecdote of being unable to contact his parents during his 10-month stay in Russia in 1993.&nbsp;During the address, Narayanan emphasised how India's communication revolution has been powered by its space program. From launching the first satellite, Aryabhata, in 1975 and demonstrating mass communication through a borrowed US satellite signal in the same year, India has scaled dramatically.&nbsp;"Today, 85 per cent of households have smartphones. Almost all districts have 5G coverage, almost 99.6 per cent," he said.&nbsp;Highlighting ISRO's achievements, he noted that India now operates 18 communication satellites with 354 transponders and 73 Gbps of high-throughput capacity. The GSAT-11 satellite alone weighs 6,000 kg and continues to serve with high efficiency. He also noted the targeted efforts to ensure connectivity in the Northeastern region with dedicated spot beams.&nbsp;Narayanan said ISRO's contributions go beyond national interest. "We strongly believe in the growth of the global community. Last year alone, we launched 72 satellites through two missions. This month, we'll launch another communication satellite," he stated.

V Narayanan, Chairman of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), on Wednesday said that India is poised to stand with the developed spacefaring nations by 2040, with plans underway to achieve parity in launcher capabilities.

V Narayanan, Chairman of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), on Wednesday said that India is poised to stand with the developed spacefaring nations by 2040, with plans underway to achieve parity in launcher capabilities. Addressing the India Mobile Congress (IMC) 2025 in the national capital, ISRO Chief said, “By 2040, India will be in par with any other developed spacefaring nation in terms of launcher capability, in terms of satellite capability, in terms of scientific missions, in terms of ground equipment.” He credited the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi for providing vision and direction. Addressing the audience, Narayanan traced India's technological transformation since Independence. "In 1947, we had only about 84,000 telephone lines for a population of 350 million. I come from a village in Kanyakumari district, and I still remember that even in the 1990s, there was no telephone connectivity for a 5 km radius," he said, sharing a personal anecdote of being unable to contact his parents during his 10-month stay in Russia in 1993. During the address, Narayanan emphasised how India's communication revolution has been powered by its space program. From launching the first satellite, Aryabhata, in 1975 and demonstrating mass communication through a borrowed US satellite signal in the same year, India has scaled dramatically. "Today, 85 per cent of households have smartphones. Almost all districts have 5G coverage, almost 99.6 per cent," he said. Highlighting ISRO's achievements, he noted that India now operates 18 communication satellites with 354 transponders and 73 Gbps of high-throughput capacity. The GSAT-11 satellite alone weighs 6,000 kg and continues to serve with high efficiency. He also noted the targeted efforts to ensure connectivity in the Northeastern region with dedicated spot beams. Narayanan said ISRO's contributions go beyond national interest. "We strongly believe in the growth of the global community. Last year alone, we launched 72 satellites through two missions. This month, we'll launch another communication satellite," he stated.

ISRO news: V Narayanan credited the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi for providing vision and direction.&nbsp;

India to join ranks of leading spacefaring nations by 2040: ISRO Chief

Joint projects, such as the NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR) satellite, demonstrate how collaboration enhances global monitoring of climate change, natural disasters, and other scientific research objectives.

From NASA to ISRO: Top 6 space agencies shaping the future of exploration

Stargazers and scientists alike are turning their eyes to the skies this week as asteroid 2025 QY4 makes its approach towards Earth. The rock, measuring nearly 180 feet in diameter, has been classified as part of the Aten group of asteroids, which are known for crossing Earth’s orbital path. According to NASA’s Centre for Near-Earth Object Studies (CNEOS), the asteroid is travelling at a remarkable speed of 39,205 miles per hour. Although its trajectory brings it close in astronomical terms, experts emphasise there is no danger of impact.&nbsp;<h2>Distance of approach</h2>&nbsp;NASA has confirmed that 2025 QY4 will make its closest approach on August 29, 2025, on Friday, at approximately 11:26 AM IST. At its nearest, the asteroid will pass Earth at a distance of 2.81 million miles, or about 4.51 million kilometres. While this might seem vast, it is considered relatively close when viewed against the scale of space. The agency designates any object larger than 85 metres that comes within 7.4 million kilometres of Earth as ‘potentially hazardous.’ Despite being above that size threshold, QY4’s flyby distance places it outside the hazardous category.&nbsp;<h2>Why scientists track such flybys</h2><h2>&nbsp;</h2>The monitoring of near-Earth asteroids remains a critical part of planetary defence. Even small shifts in an asteroid’s orbit, caused by gravitational influences or solar radiation, can alter their future trajectories. This is why agencies including NASA, ESA, JAXA and ISRO keep such objects under close observation. ISRO chief S. Somanath has also highlighted India’s plans to contribute to asteroid studies, with particular attention to larger rocks such as Apophis, expected to pass close to Earth in 2029. Tracking QY4 adds to the growing body of data on asteroid behaviour, composition, and movement, which can inform both research and future mitigation strategies.&nbsp;<h2>A reminder from space</h2>&nbsp;Although asteroid 2025 QY4 poses no threat, its passage serves as a reminder of the dynamic nature of the cosmos. These events underline the need for global collaboration in space science and planetary protection. The flyby of QY4 is not merely a moment of astronomical curiosity; it is a demonstration of how swiftly conditions in our skies can change, and why vigilance is necessary.&nbsp;

The agency designates any object larger than 85 metres that comes within 7.4 million kilometres of Earth as ‘potentially hazardous.’

Stargazers and scientists alike are turning their eyes to the skies this week as asteroid 2025 QY4 makes its approach towards Earth. The rock, measuring nearly 180 feet in diameter, has been classified as part of the Aten group of asteroids, which are known for crossing Earth’s orbital path. According to NASA’s Centre for Near-Earth Object Studies (CNEOS), the asteroid is travelling at a remarkable speed of 39,205 miles per hour. Although its trajectory brings it close in astronomical terms, experts emphasise there is no danger of impact. Distance of approach NASA has confirmed that 2025 QY4 will make its closest approach on August 29, 2025, on Friday, at approximately 11:26 AM IST. At its nearest, the asteroid will pass Earth at a distance of 2.81 million miles, or about 4.51 million kilometres. While this might seem vast, it is considered relatively close when viewed against the scale of space. The agency designates any object larger than 85 metres that comes within 7.4 million kilometres of Earth as ‘potentially hazardous.’ Despite being above that size threshold, QY4’s flyby distance places it outside the hazardous category. Why scientists track such flybys The monitoring of near-Earth asteroids remains a critical part of planetary defence. Even small shifts in an asteroid’s orbit, caused by gravitational influences or solar radiation, can alter their future trajectories. This is why agencies including NASA, ESA, JAXA and ISRO keep such objects under close observation. ISRO chief S. Somanath has also highlighted India’s plans to contribute to asteroid studies, with particular attention to larger rocks such as Apophis, expected to pass close to Earth in 2029. Tracking QY4 adds to the growing body of data on asteroid behaviour, composition, and movement, which can inform both research and future mitigation strategies. A reminder from space Although asteroid 2025 QY4 poses no threat, its passage serves as a reminder of the dynamic nature of the cosmos. These events underline the need for global collaboration in space science and planetary protection. The flyby of QY4 is not merely a moment of astronomical curiosity; it is a demonstration of how swiftly conditions in our skies can change, and why vigilance is necessary.

The agency designates any object larger than 85 metres that comes within 7.4 million kilometres of Earth as ‘potentially hazardous.’

NASA confirms 180-foot asteroid racing at 39,205 mph to fly past Earth on this date..

The Indian Government agency IN-SPACE, responsible for promoting and supporting private space companies, announced that it has authorised a private consortium to design, build, launch, and operate a constellation of 12 Earth-imaging satellites. This is the first time in India that a group of private firms would be building and operating a fleet of multi-purpose satellites, a task which so far has been done only by the Government-run space agency ISRO.&nbsp;&nbsp;According to IN-SPACE, the private grouping led by PixxelSpace India emerged as the successful bidder, and the consortium would invest more than ₹1,200crore(approx $137mn) over the next five years to launch the dozen-strong satellite fleet in a phased manner.&nbsp;The selection of this private grouping is based on a multi-stage evaluation process that began with 20 industries forming nine consortia.&nbsp;&nbsp;The dozen-strong satellite fleet that is meant to be placed in a near-Earth orbit (between 500-2000km above the surface) would have diverse Earth-imaging capabilities. They will be equipped with the following imaging capabilities: panchromatic(black-and-white imagery for mapping), multispectral(imagery using different color-filters to study land, soil, water, hyperspectral(high-precision imagery to identify crop type, map minerals, detect chrmical/biological activity) and microwave SAR(all-weather, day and night imagery using radar waves).&nbsp;&nbsp;According to IN-SPACE, this constellation will deliver Analysis Ready Data (ARD) and Value-Added Services (VAS) for applications in climate change monitoring, disaster management, agriculture, infrastructure, marine surveillance, national security, and urban planning, while also catering to the global demand for high-quality geospatial intelligence.&nbsp;While IN-SPACE said that the high-resolution indigenous satellite data would significantly reduce India’s reliance on foreign sources and ensure data sovereignty, it was not specified whether there are assured Indian customers(Government or private) who would be purchasing this data. Rajeev Jyoti, Director, Technical Directorate, IN-SPACE, said, “All three shortlisted bidders submitted excellent technical and business plans".&nbsp;Dr. Pawan Goenka, Chairman, IN-SPACE, said, “This initiative signals the coming of age of India’s private space industry. It demonstrates the capability and confidence of Indian companies to lead large-scale, technologically advanced, and commercially viable space missions that serve both national and global markets. The Earth Observation-Public Private Partnership model fosters an ecosystem where public and private capabilities reinforce each other to drive growth, innovation, and self-reliance.”&nbsp;Under the Public Private Partnership framework, the Government of India will provide strategic, technical, and policy support, while the PixxelSpace India-led consortium will own and operate the EO system, including satellite manufacturing, launches from Indian soil, ground infrastructure, and commercialisation of data services, it was added.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The selection of this private grouping is based on a multi-stage evaluation process that began with 20 industries forming nine consortia. 

The Indian Government agency IN-SPACE, responsible for promoting and supporting private space companies, announced that it has authorised a private consortium to design, build, launch, and operate a constellation of 12 Earth-imaging satellites. This is the first time in India that a group of private firms would be building and operating a fleet of multi-purpose satellites, a task which so far has been done only by the Government-run space agency ISRO. According to IN-SPACE, the private grouping led by PixxelSpace India emerged as the successful bidder, and the consortium would invest more than ₹1,200crore(approx $137mn) over the next five years to launch the dozen-strong satellite fleet in a phased manner. The selection of this private grouping is based on a multi-stage evaluation process that began with 20 industries forming nine consortia. The dozen-strong satellite fleet that is meant to be placed in a near-Earth orbit (between 500-2000km above the surface) would have diverse Earth-imaging capabilities. They will be equipped with the following imaging capabilities: panchromatic(black-and-white imagery for mapping), multispectral(imagery using different color-filters to study land, soil, water, hyperspectral(high-precision imagery to identify crop type, map minerals, detect chrmical/biological activity) and microwave SAR(all-weather, day and night imagery using radar waves). According to IN-SPACE, this constellation will deliver Analysis Ready Data (ARD) and Value-Added Services (VAS) for applications in climate change monitoring, disaster management, agriculture, infrastructure, marine surveillance, national security, and urban planning, while also catering to the global demand for high-quality geospatial intelligence. While IN-SPACE said that the high-resolution indigenous satellite data would significantly reduce India’s reliance on foreign sources and ensure data sovereignty, it was not specified whether there are assured Indian customers(Government or private) who would be purchasing this data. Rajeev Jyoti, Director, Technical Directorate, IN-SPACE, said, “All three shortlisted bidders submitted excellent technical and business plans". Dr. Pawan Goenka, Chairman, IN-SPACE, said, “This initiative signals the coming of age of India’s private space industry. It demonstrates the capability and confidence of Indian companies to lead large-scale, technologically advanced, and commercially viable space missions that serve both national and global markets. The Earth Observation-Public Private Partnership model fosters an ecosystem where public and private capabilities reinforce each other to drive growth, innovation, and self-reliance.” Under the Public Private Partnership framework, the Government of India will provide strategic, technical, and policy support, while the PixxelSpace India-led consortium will own and operate the EO system, including satellite manufacturing, launches from Indian soil, ground infrastructure, and commercialisation of data services, it was added.

The selection of this private grouping is based on a multi-stage evaluation process that began with 20 industries forming nine consortia.&nbsp;

Indian govt okays 12-satellite Earth-imaging fleet for $137mn

The ISRO-NASA NISAR satellite launched successfully on 30 July and will map Earth’s land and ice in record detail. It will help forecast disasters and collect vast radar data. A landmark US-India collaboration. Science operations begin soon. Know more below.

NASA-ISRO NISAR mission: 5 ways how this satellite will help scientists and save lives

The NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR) satellite is a highly sophisticated and precise Earth-imaging system. Costing well over $1.3 billion, this satellite's phenomenal imaging prowess is a result of its 12-meter large radar reflector antenna, which can send thousands of radar beams to Earth and capture their reflection. Made out of a thin and flexible material, this massive radar reflector is stowed carefully before launch and unfurled after reaching space. Though made of a delicate material, this umbrella-like antenna is capable of withstanding the impact of tiny space rocks that could potentially hit it at speeds well over 35,000kmph, a NASA official told WION.&nbsp;In space, there are millions of man-made debris and naturally occurring micrometeoroids (millimetre-sized space rocks). They travel in space at hypervelocity speeds averaging 10 km/s (35,000kmph). When this space junk collides with spacecraft and satellites, it could potentially cause serious damage or catastrophic failure. This makes NISAR's massive 12-meter antenna quite a vulnerable target, but such risks have been factored in while building the most expensive civilian-use Earth-imaging satellite."The reflector antenna (mesh) is&nbsp;built to be robust against micrometeoroids.&nbsp;At times, micrometeoroids can punch tiny holes on the micrometre or millimetre scale, but even in that event, the reflector is designed to hold its shape and continue doing its job," Dr. Paul Rosen, NASA-JPL's Project Scientist for NISAR told WION's Sidharth.M.P. An analysis deemed that this risk was acceptable, he added.<h2>Why is NISAR placed in a sun-synchronous polar orbit?</h2>Conventional Earth-imaging satellites click detailed colour photos of Earth, very similar to what a high-end camera does. As in the case of photography, the most detailed images from conventional Earth-imaging satellites are obtained during the daylight hours. To ensure repeated and reliable imagery of its target area in daylight conditions, such conventional Earth-imaging satellites are placed in orbits that are in sync with the Sun's angle. This is known as a Sun-Synchronous Polar orbit (SSPO).In comparison, a radar-imaging satellite works in a totally different manner. Instead of giving an optics-based picture (like a photograph), radar satellites constantly beam radar waves onto the Earth. The features on Earth's surface (buildings, trees, mountains, water bodies, roads, glaciers) reflect these radar waves back to the satellite. By collecting and processing the reflected radar waves, radar-imaging satellites deliver imagery during day and night, in all weather conditions. Due to their all-weather, round-the-clock imaging capability, radar-imaging satellites don't need to be placed in SSPO for repeated daylight imagery.&nbsp;However, NISAR is being placed in an SSPO. When queried about the reasoning behind this, Dr. Rosen told WION that NISAR's Sun-synchronous polar orbit at 6 am and 6 pm provides uniform power to its solar panels, minimises exposure to the ionosphere (which can cause disruptions), and sets consistent times of day for data collection, which is important for science.&nbsp;<h2>24/7 Earth-monitoring for several years by NISAR&nbsp;</h2>Typically, an Earth-imaging satellite would have to capture images only when passing over its area of interest or region of study. When not flying over the area of interest, the imaging equipment can be turned off and put to rest. That's where NISAR stands out - its job is to capture earth imaging data round-the-clock, over its operational life of more than three years. NASA says NISAR will be capable of mapping the Earth's land and ice-covered surface twice in a period of twelve days. While NISAR is expected to have a minimum mission life of three years, it is likely to perform its duties for five years or longer. Satellite life depends on how much fuel it carries on board, the design life of its electronic components, and other technical parameters.NISAR is the first satellite mission to collect radar data in two microwave bandwidth regions, called the L-band and the S-band, to measure changes of our planet’s surface, including movements as small as a centimetre. This allows the mission to observe a wide range of Earth processes, from the flow rates of glaciers and ice sheets to the dynamics of earthquakes and volcanoes. NISAR will map the entire globe in 12 days.&nbsp;<h2>NISAR to be launched at 5:40 pm, Indian time</h2>The countdown to the billion-dollar NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar satellite launch commenced at 14:10 hours Indian time, Tuesday, (July 29) at the Indian spaceport Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC-SHAR). At 17:40hrs, Indian time, Wednesday, 30th July, the Indian GSLV-F16 rocket carrying the Earth-imaging satellite is scheduled to liftoff from the second launchpad of India's lone spaceport.<h2>About the NISAR satellite and the GSLV rocket</h2>The NISAR satellite weighs 2,400kg and sits atop ISRO's 52-meter-tall GSLV rocket, a three-staged launch vehicle that is powered by solid, liquid, and cryogenic fuels. The rocket is expected to place the satellite into orbit almost 19 minutes after liftoff, around 18:00 hours IST.Costing well over a billion US dollars, the NISAR satellite is the first such collaborative mission between the Indian and American space agencies. While NASA has revealed that they've spent $1.2bn on NISAR, ISRO has not officially revealed its financial contribution. Estimates say ISRO is likely to have spent around $100mn. The vast difference in expenditure is said to be owing to the differences in accounting.&nbsp;Notably, the estimated $1.3bn (₹11,294cr approx) cost of the NISAR mission is almost as much as the annual budget of the Indian Space Agency, ISRO. In recent years, ISRO's annual budget has hovered between $1.3 and $1.5 billion. Therefore, it would be fair to say that there is a lot riding on ISRO's GSLV rocket-literally and figuratively.&nbsp;

Though made of a delicate material, this umbrella-like antenna is capable of withstanding the impact of tiny space rocks that could potentially hit it at speeds well over 35,000kmph, a NASA official told WION. 

The NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR) satellite is a highly sophisticated and precise Earth-imaging system. Costing well over $1.3 billion, this satellite's phenomenal imaging prowess is a result of its 12-meter large radar reflector antenna, which can send thousands of radar beams to Earth and capture their reflection. Made out of a thin and flexible material, this massive radar reflector is stowed carefully before launch and unfurled after reaching space. Though made of a delicate material, this umbrella-like antenna is capable of withstanding the impact of tiny space rocks that could potentially hit it at speeds well over 35,000kmph, a NASA official told WION. In space, there are millions of man-made debris and naturally occurring micrometeoroids (millimetre-sized space rocks). They travel in space at hypervelocity speeds averaging 10 km/s (35,000kmph). When this space junk collides with spacecraft and satellites, it could potentially cause serious damage or catastrophic failure. This makes NISAR's massive 12-meter antenna quite a vulnerable target, but such risks have been factored in while building the most expensive civilian-use Earth-imaging satellite. "The reflector antenna (mesh) is built to be robust against micrometeoroids. At times, micrometeoroids can punch tiny holes on the micrometre or millimetre scale, but even in that event, the reflector is designed to hold its shape and continue doing its job," Dr. Paul Rosen, NASA-JPL's Project Scientist for NISAR told WION's Sidharth.M.P. An analysis deemed that this risk was acceptable, he added. Why is NISAR placed in a sun-synchronous polar orbit? Conventional Earth-imaging satellites click detailed colour photos of Earth, very similar to what a high-end camera does. As in the case of photography, the most detailed images from conventional Earth-imaging satellites are obtained during the daylight hours. To ensure repeated and reliable imagery of its target area in daylight conditions, such conventional Earth-imaging satellites are placed in orbits that are in sync with the Sun's angle. This is known as a Sun-Synchronous Polar orbit (SSPO). In comparison, a radar-imaging satellite works in a totally different manner. Instead of giving an optics-based picture (like a photograph), radar satellites constantly beam radar waves onto the Earth. The features on Earth's surface (buildings, trees, mountains, water bodies, roads, glaciers) reflect these radar waves back to the satellite. By collecting and processing the reflected radar waves, radar-imaging satellites deliver imagery during day and night, in all weather conditions. Due to their all-weather, round-the-clock imaging capability, radar-imaging satellites don't need to be placed in SSPO for repeated daylight imagery. However, NISAR is being placed in an SSPO. When queried about the reasoning behind this, Dr. Rosen told WION that NISAR's Sun-synchronous polar orbit at 6 am and 6 pm provides uniform power to its solar panels, minimises exposure to the ionosphere (which can cause disruptions), and sets consistent times of day for data collection, which is important for science. 24/7 Earth-monitoring for several years by NISAR Typically, an Earth-imaging satellite would have to capture images only when passing over its area of interest or region of study. When not flying over the area of interest, the imaging equipment can be turned off and put to rest. That's where NISAR stands out - its job is to capture earth imaging data round-the-clock, over its operational life of more than three years. NASA says NISAR will be capable of mapping the Earth's land and ice-covered surface twice in a period of twelve days. While NISAR is expected to have a minimum mission life of three years, it is likely to perform its duties for five years or longer. Satellite life depends on how much fuel it carries on board, the design life of its electronic components, and other technical parameters. NISAR is the first satellite mission to collect radar data in two microwave bandwidth regions, called the L-band and the S-band, to measure changes of our planet’s surface, including movements as small as a centimetre. This allows the mission to observe a wide range of Earth processes, from the flow rates of glaciers and ice sheets to the dynamics of earthquakes and volcanoes. NISAR will map the entire globe in 12 days. NISAR to be launched at 5:40 pm, Indian time The countdown to the billion-dollar NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar satellite launch commenced at 14:10 hours Indian time, Tuesday, (July 29) at the Indian spaceport Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC-SHAR). At 17:40hrs, Indian time, Wednesday, 30th July, the Indian GSLV-F16 rocket carrying the Earth-imaging satellite is scheduled to liftoff from the second launchpad of India's lone spaceport. About the NISAR satellite and the GSLV rocket The NISAR satellite weighs 2,400kg and sits atop ISRO's 52-meter-tall GSLV rocket, a three-staged launch vehicle that is powered by solid, liquid, and cryogenic fuels. The rocket is expected to place the satellite into orbit almost 19 minutes after liftoff, around 18:00 hours IST. Costing well over a billion US dollars, the NISAR satellite is the first such collaborative mission between the Indian and American space agencies. While NASA has revealed that they've spent $1.2bn on NISAR, ISRO has not officially revealed its financial contribution. Estimates say ISRO is likely to have spent around $100mn. The vast difference in expenditure is said to be owing to the differences in accounting. Notably, the estimated $1.3bn (₹11,294cr approx) cost of the NISAR mission is almost as much as the annual budget of the Indian Space Agency, ISRO. In recent years, ISRO's annual budget has hovered between $1.3 and $1.5 billion. Therefore, it would be fair to say that there is a lot riding on ISRO's GSLV rocket-literally and figuratively.

Though made of a delicate material, this umbrella-like antenna is capable of withstanding the impact of tiny space rocks that could potentially hit it at speeds well over 35,000kmph, a NASA official told WION.&nbsp;

Exclusive: NASA-ISRO NISAR satellite can survive hits from tiny space rocks

GSLV-F16, ISRO's rocket, is set to launch the NISAR satellite with NASA. Standing 51 metres tall and equipped with cryogenic technology, GSLV-F16 ensures safe, accurate placement of this landmark joint mission in space. know more below.

ISRO-NASA NISAR mission: Know more about the GSLV-F16 launch vehicle

The countdown to the billion-dollar NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar satellite launch commenced at 2:10 PM IST, Tuesday, July 29, at the Indian spaceport Satish Dhawan Space Centre(SDSC-SHAR). At 5:40 PM IST, Wednesday (July 30), the Indian GSLV-F16 rocket carrying the Earth-imaging satellite is scheduled to liftoff from the second launchpad of India's lone spaceport. The NISAR satellite weighs 2,400kg and sits atop the 52-meter-tall GSLV rocket, a three-staged launch vehicle that is powered by solid, liquid, and cryogenic fuels. The rocket is expected to place the satellite into orbit almost 19 minutes after liftoff, around 6 PM IST.&nbsp;Costing well over a billion US dollars, the NISAR satellite is the first such collaborative mission between the Indian and American space agencies. While NASA has revealed that they've spent $1.2 billion on NISAR, ISRO has not officially revealed their financial contribution. Estimates say, ISRO is likely to have spent around $100 million. The vast difference in expenditure is said to be owing to the differences in accounting.&nbsp;&nbsp;Notably, the estimated $1.3 billion (Rs.11,294 crore approx) cost of NISAR mission is almost as much as the annual budget of the Indian Space agency ISRO. In recent years, ISRO's annual budget has hovered between $1.3 billion and $1.5 billion. Therefore, it would be fair to say that there is a lot riding on ISRO's GSLV rocket- literally and figuratively.&nbsp;&nbsp;<h2>How a radar-imaging satellite like NISAR works</h2>&nbsp;Conventional Earth-imaging satellites click detailed colour photos of Earth, very similar to what a high-end camera does. In comparison, a radar-imaging satellite works in a totally different manner. Instead of giving an optics-based picture(like a photograph), radar satellites constantly beam radar waves onto the Earth. The features on Earth's surface, (buildings, trees, mountains, water bodies, roads, glaciers) reflect these radar waves back to the satellite. By collecting and processing the reflected radar waves, radar-imaging satellites deliver imagery during day and night, during all weather conditions.&nbsp;Typically, conventional satellites' ability to deliver images are obstructed by clouds, weather-related phenomenon. While conventional Optical satellite images are in colour, radar satellites images are inherently black-and-white. However, theseblack- and-white radar satellite images can be processed to deliver false-colour images for analysis.&nbsp;<h2>24/7 Earth-monitoring for several years by NISAR&nbsp;</h2>&nbsp;Typically, an Earth-imaging satellite would have to only capture images when passing over its area of interest or region of study. When not flying over the area of interest, the imaging equipment can be turned off and put to rest. That's where NISAR stands out - its job is to capture earth imaging data round-the-clock, over its operational life of more than three years. NASA says, NISAR will be capable of mapping the Earth's land and ice-covered surface twice in a period of twelve days. While NISAR is expected to have a minimum mission life of three years, it is likely to perform its duties for five years or longer. Satellite life depends on how much fuel it carries on board, the design life of its electronic components, and other technical parameters.&nbsp;NISAR is the first satellite mission to collect radar data in two microwave bandwidth regions, called the L-band and the S-band, to measure changes of our planet’s surface, including movements as small as a centimeter. This allows the mission to observe a wide range of Earth processes, from the flow rates of glaciers and ice sheets to the dynamics of earthquakes and volcanoes. NISAR will map the entire globe in 12 days. &nbsp;

The countdown for NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar satellite launch has commenced, and the liftoff is scheduled on Wednesday (July 30). Here's all you need to know.

The countdown to the billion-dollar NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar satellite launch commenced at 2:10 PM IST, Tuesday, July 29, at the Indian spaceport Satish Dhawan Space Centre(SDSC-SHAR). At 5:40 PM IST, Wednesday (July 30), the Indian GSLV-F16 rocket carrying the Earth-imaging satellite is scheduled to liftoff from the second launchpad of India's lone spaceport. The NISAR satellite weighs 2,400kg and sits atop the 52-meter-tall GSLV rocket, a three-staged launch vehicle that is powered by solid, liquid, and cryogenic fuels. The rocket is expected to place the satellite into orbit almost 19 minutes after liftoff, around 6 PM IST. Costing well over a billion US dollars, the NISAR satellite is the first such collaborative mission between the Indian and American space agencies. While NASA has revealed that they've spent $1.2 billion on NISAR, ISRO has not officially revealed their financial contribution. Estimates say, ISRO is likely to have spent around $100 million. The vast difference in expenditure is said to be owing to the differences in accounting. Notably, the estimated $1.3 billion (Rs.11,294 crore approx) cost of NISAR mission is almost as much as the annual budget of the Indian Space agency ISRO. In recent years, ISRO's annual budget has hovered between $1.3 billion and $1.5 billion. Therefore, it would be fair to say that there is a lot riding on ISRO's GSLV rocket- literally and figuratively. How a radar-imaging satellite like NISAR works Conventional Earth-imaging satellites click detailed colour photos of Earth, very similar to what a high-end camera does. In comparison, a radar-imaging satellite works in a totally different manner. Instead of giving an optics-based picture(like a photograph), radar satellites constantly beam radar waves onto the Earth. The features on Earth's surface, (buildings, trees, mountains, water bodies, roads, glaciers) reflect these radar waves back to the satellite. By collecting and processing the reflected radar waves, radar-imaging satellites deliver imagery during day and night, during all weather conditions. Typically, conventional satellites' ability to deliver images are obstructed by clouds, weather-related phenomenon. While conventional Optical satellite images are in colour, radar satellites images are inherently black-and-white. However, these black- and-white radar satellite images can be processed to deliver false-colour images for analysis. 24/7 Earth-monitoring for several years by NISAR Typically, an Earth-imaging satellite would have to only capture images when passing over its area of interest or region of study. When not flying over the area of interest, the imaging equipment can be turned off and put to rest. That's where NISAR stands out - its job is to capture earth imaging data round-the-clock, over its operational life of more than three years. NASA says, NISAR will be capable of mapping the Earth's land and ice-covered surface twice in a period of twelve days. While NISAR is expected to have a minimum mission life of three years, it is likely to perform its duties for five years or longer. Satellite life depends on how much fuel it carries on board, the design life of its electronic components, and other technical parameters. NISAR is the first satellite mission to collect radar data in two microwave bandwidth regions, called the L-band and the S-band, to measure changes of our planet’s surface, including movements as small as a centimeter. This allows the mission to observe a wide range of Earth processes, from the flow rates of glaciers and ice sheets to the dynamics of earthquakes and volcanoes. NISAR will map the entire globe in 12 days.

The countdown for NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar satellite launch has commenced, and the liftoff is scheduled on Wednesday (July 30). Here's all you need to know.

NASA-ISRO NISAR satellite costs as much as ISRO's annual budget

India’s space agency ISRO (Indian Space Research Organisation) and America’s NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) are joining hands together for a major satellite mission called NISAR (NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar). This is the first Earth-observation satellite project in which two countries have agreed to work together. The ISRO confirmed the launch of the satellite for July 30 from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota at 5:40 pm IST.<h2>What is NISAR Satellite and its mission?</h2>NISAR Satellite stands for NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar. It is a powerful Earth-monitoring satellite that will provide detailed 3D images of our planet.&nbsp;It is one of the most expensive space missions between India and the United States. The total cost of this mission is around $1.5 billion. What makes it special, is that it uses advanced radar technology to create detailed 3D maps of the Earths land and its ice surfaces. It is the first satellite in orbit with dual-frequency radar, combining NASA’s L-band and ISRO’s S-band radars.<h2>Who will lead the launch?</h2>India through ISRO will handle the launch of this satellite using its GSLV rocket. Engineers from both countries worked together to build key parts of the satellite, including a 12-meter-wide antenna and complex radar systems.<h2>Specifications of NISAR satellite:</h2><ul><li>The satellite will orbit the Earth every 12 days</li><li>Tells us about the changes in forests and ecosystems</li><li>Provide information regarding earth movements like earthquakes, landslides and volcanic activity</li><li>Provides details about glacier melting and ice sheet movement</li><li>Updates about the soil moisture and groundwater shifts</li><li>Information about rising sea levels and urban growth</li><li>Reliable in all weather conditions (can collect data through clouds and thick vegetation)</li></ul><h2>A symbol of partnership between India and United States</h2>NISAR mission will not only aim to improve how we understand and protect our Earth, but it also stands as a strong example of how international collaboration between important organisations can advance science and technology and how it can provide benefits for the humanity.&nbsp;

NISAR mission will not only aim to improve how we understand and protect our Earth but it also stands as a strong example of how international collaboration between important organisations can advance science and technology.

India’s space agency ISRO (Indian Space Research Organisation) and America’s NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) are joining hands together for a major satellite mission called NISAR (NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar). This is the first Earth-observation satellite project in which two countries have agreed to work together. The ISRO confirmed the launch of the satellite for July 30 from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota at 5:40 pm IST. What is NISAR Satellite and its mission? NISAR Satellite stands for NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar. It is a powerful Earth-monitoring satellite that will provide detailed 3D images of our planet. It is one of the most expensive space missions between India and the United States. The total cost of this mission is around $1.5 billion. What makes it special, is that it uses advanced radar technology to create detailed 3D maps of the Earths land and its ice surfaces. It is the first satellite in orbit with dual-frequency radar, combining NASA’s L-band and ISRO’s S-band radars. Who will lead the launch? India through ISRO will handle the launch of this satellite using its GSLV rocket. Engineers from both countries worked together to build key parts of the satellite, including a 12-meter-wide antenna and complex radar systems. Specifications of NISAR satellite: The satellite will orbit the Earth every 12 days Tells us about the changes in forests and ecosystems Provide information regarding earth movements like earthquakes, landslides and volcanic activity Provides details about glacier melting and ice sheet movement Updates about the soil moisture and groundwater shifts Information about rising sea levels and urban growth Reliable in all weather conditions (can collect data through clouds and thick vegetation) A symbol of partnership between India and United States NISAR mission will not only aim to improve how we understand and protect our Earth, but it also stands as a strong example of how international collaboration between important organisations can advance science and technology and how it can provide benefits for the humanity.

NISAR mission will not only aim to improve how we understand and protect our Earth but it also stands as a strong example of how international collaboration between important organisations can advance science and technology.

What is NISAR satellite and it's mission? India, US join hands for first time for Earth-observation project | Details inside

As per&nbsp;the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO), the Chandrayaan-2 Lunar Orbiter recently performed a Collision Avoidance Manoeuvre (CAM), to mitigate the risk of passing very close to NASA’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO). As both lunar orbiters are studying the moon from a Polar orbit (flying in a manner that nearly covers both the north and south poles), they come fairly close to each other near the Lunar poles.

However, in the recent case, calculations by both ISRO and NASA showed that the radial operation between the spacecraft would be less than 100 meters and the closest approach distance would be 3km, at a certain time. This close approach was predicted to occur at 11:15 am IST, on 20th October, near the Lunar North Pole.&nbsp;Thereafter, both agencies mutually agreed that the Indian orbiter would undergo the Collision avoidance manoeuvre.

“The manoeuvre was scheduled for 18th October 2021.It was designed to ensure a sufficiently large radial separation at the next closest conjunction between the two spacecraft. The CAM was executed nominally at 14:52 UTC (8:22 pm IST), on October 18th” said ISRO. The Indian Space agency also added calculations based on the new orbit confirmed that there would be no further close passes in the near future.&nbsp;

<img alt="CAM1" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="3866602a-053a-49b2-9a67-2cc53ab2aecb" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/CAM%201.png" />

CAMs are performed to mitigate the collision risk of satellites in orbit with other spacecraft or with space debris. However, such manoeuvres are also considered quite resource-hungry, as the satellite will have to expend its onboard liquid fuel (stored in a limited quantity) to perform the engine firing (manoeuvre). Since satellites are in space for a specified mission time, such unplanned firings of their engines can reduce their mission life, owing to the loss of precious onboard fuel.&nbsp;

ISRO regularly monitors such critical close approaches and executes CAMs for its operational satellites, whenever the collision risk is assessed to be critical. However, this is the first time such critically close conjunction was experienced for a space exploration mission of ISRO. Earlier, the Russian Space Agency had revealed that India’s Cartosat 2F weighing over 700kg dangerously approached the Kanopus-V spacecraft on November 27th, 2020. In a tweet, Roscosmos has said that the minimum distance between both Russian and foreign satellites was 224 meters. They are both designed for remote sensing of the earth.&nbsp;

How significant and dangerous is a close-pass in space?&nbsp;

A highly-placed source had earlier told WION that, 1 Kilometer is an ideal distance between satellites in orbit, whereas anything less than 300 meters is scary and can be counted as a near-miss. Generally, when two satellites are predicted (based on calculations) to make a close pass, a decision is taken to manoeuvre one of them away in advance (usually days ahead).&nbsp;

Given how space is getting increasingly crowded with satellites that are used for various purposes, it is said to be normal for top space agencies to manoeuvre one of their satellites every 3-4 weeks. It is notable that low Earth orbit (500-2000km) is the most congested, with satellites of various sizes overpopulating it - ranging from 10cm cubes to ones that are the size of a car or larger.&nbsp;However, the decision to manoeuvre is not very easy. Especially, when the satellite is performing a strategic role that requires it to be at a particular spot. Because the manoeuvre would affect the schedule of the pre-planned operation of surveillance (imaging or using other sensors). In the earlier case, Roscosmos had said that both Indian and Russian spacecraft were remote sensing satellites. This implies that they were in all likelihood being used for strategic purposes.&nbsp;

The space community has been divided over prediction models for tracking satellites in orbit. The existing ones are the European Model, American Model, Russian Model, and an Indian Model (fairly recent). The reason that the space community hotly debates the efficiency of the models is that there are differences between the calculations made using each model.&nbsp;

<img alt="CAM2" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="c3bae883-d9df-4f6d-8b8b-712307c55c78" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/CAM%202.png" />

Let’s assume that the Indian model said that the satellites would be 1km apart, whereas the Russian model would have predicted that they would be 500m apart. It is also highly likely that in reality, both models will be wrong and the satellites get closer than the prediction showed. Hence, there is no single model that works accurately, as each one can provide a different result.&nbsp;

The real danger posed by a possible collision of satellites would be the debris of varying sizes scattered across space in all directions, at high speeds with a high potential of harming other satellites and even future missions to that respective region.

The last large collision of satellites (in earth orbit) happened in 2009, when a US commercial Iridium spacecraft hit a defunct Russian satellite over Siberia, producing thousands of pieces of debris. Presently, there are over 2,000 active satellites orbiting the earth. There are also more than 23,000 pieces of debris larger than 10cm (4inches) in orbit, according to NASA.

Space Situational Awareness (SSA)

Space Situational Awareness (SSA) is the science of tracking objects (man-made and natural) that are in orbit and also predicting where they would be at a given point in time. So far, only America, Russia and Europe have similar established capabilities in place to track space objects and share collision warnings.&nbsp;

In late 2020, the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) had set up a dedicated Control Centre to monitor, track and protect India’s space assets and coordinate between Indian agencies, their foreign counterparts and international bodies. The Directorate of Space Situational Awareness and Management (DSSAM) has been established at ISRO to enhance Space Situational Awareness.

An entity focused on SSA is much-needed owing to the manner in which space is getting over-populated with government, private satellites, man-made space debris which pose a serious threat to satellites that are orbiting the earth.&nbsp;

Watch |&nbsp;Gravitas: Russia destroys satellite, releases big cloud of 'space junk'

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-russia-destroys-satellite-releases-big-cloud-of-space-junk-429873/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

According to ISRO, the NEtwork for space object TRacking and Analysis (NETRA) project is initiated as a first step towards meeting this goal. NETRA’s main elements would be a radar, an optical telescope facility, and a control centre.&nbsp;

ISRO’s SSA Control Centre, “NETRA”, is now set up within the ISTRAC campus at Peenya, Bangalore.

Some core SSA activities will comprise close approach analysis between ISRO’s satellite and launch vehicles, timely dissemination of advance alerts on collision avoidance of space assets, prediction of atmospheric re-entry of derelict satellites and rocket bodies.&nbsp;

As per the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO), the Chandrayaan-2 Lunar Orbiter recently performed a Collision Avoidance Manoeuvre (CAM), to mitigate the risk of passing very close to NASA’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO).

As per the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO), the Chandrayaan-2 Lunar Orbiter recently performed a Collision Avoidance Manoeuvre (CAM), to mitigate the risk of passing very close to NASA’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO). As both lunar orbiters are studying the moon from a Polar orbit (flying in a manner that nearly covers both the north and south poles), they come fairly close to each other near the Lunar poles. However, in the recent case, calculations by both ISRO and NASA showed that the radial operation between the spacecraft would be less than 100 meters and the closest approach distance would be 3km, at a certain time. This close approach was predicted to occur at 11:15 am IST, on 20th October, near the Lunar North Pole. Thereafter, both agencies mutually agreed that the Indian orbiter would undergo the Collision avoidance manoeuvre. “The manoeuvre was scheduled for 18th October 2021.It was designed to ensure a sufficiently large radial separation at the next closest conjunction between the two spacecraft. The CAM was executed nominally at 14:52 UTC (8:22 pm IST), on October 18th” said ISRO. The Indian Space agency also added calculations based on the new orbit confirmed that there would be no further close passes in the near future. CAMs are performed to mitigate the collision risk of satellites in orbit with other spacecraft or with space debris. However, such manoeuvres are also considered quite resource-hungry, as the satellite will have to expend its onboard liquid fuel (stored in a limited quantity) to perform the engine firing (manoeuvre). Since satellites are in space for a specified mission time, such unplanned firings of their engines can reduce their mission life, owing to the loss of precious onboard fuel. ISRO regularly monitors such critical close approaches and executes CAMs for its operational satellites, whenever the collision risk is assessed to be critical. However, this is the first time such critically close conjunction was experienced for a space exploration mission of ISRO. Earlier, the Russian Space Agency had revealed that India’s Cartosat 2F weighing over 700kg dangerously approached the Kanopus-V spacecraft on November 27th, 2020. In a tweet, Roscosmos has said that the minimum distance between both Russian and foreign satellites was 224 meters. They are both designed for remote sensing of the earth. How significant and dangerous is a close-pass in space? A highly-placed source had earlier told WION that, 1 Kilometer is an ideal distance between satellites in orbit, whereas anything less than 300 meters is scary and can be counted as a near-miss. Generally, when two satellites are predicted (based on calculations) to make a close pass, a decision is taken to manoeuvre one of them away in advance (usually days ahead). Given how space is getting increasingly crowded with satellites that are used for various purposes, it is said to be normal for top space agencies to manoeuvre one of their satellites every 3-4 weeks. It is notable that low Earth orbit (500-2000km) is the most congested, with satellites of various sizes overpopulating it - ranging from 10cm cubes to ones that are the size of a car or larger. However, the decision to manoeuvre is not very easy. Especially, when the satellite is performing a strategic role that requires it to be at a particular spot. Because the manoeuvre would affect the schedule of the pre-planned operation of surveillance (imaging or using other sensors). In the earlier case, Roscosmos had said that both Indian and Russian spacecraft were remote sensing satellites. This implies that they were in all likelihood being used for strategic purposes. The space community has been divided over prediction models for tracking satellites in orbit. The existing ones are the European Model, American Model, Russian Model, and an Indian Model (fairly recent). The reason that the space community hotly debates the efficiency of the models is that there are differences between the calculations made using each model. Let’s assume that the Indian model said that the satellites would be 1km apart, whereas the Russian model would have predicted that they would be 500m apart. It is also highly likely that in reality, both models will be wrong and the satellites get closer than the prediction showed. Hence, there is no single model that works accurately, as each one can provide a different result. The real danger posed by a possible collision of satellites would be the debris of varying sizes scattered across space in all directions, at high speeds with a high potential of harming other satellites and even future missions to that respective region. The last large collision of satellites (in earth orbit) happened in 2009, when a US commercial Iridium spacecraft hit a defunct Russian satellite over Siberia, producing thousands of pieces of debris. Presently, there are over 2,000 active satellites orbiting the earth. There are also more than 23,000 pieces of debris larger than 10cm (4inches) in orbit, according to NASA. Space Situational Awareness (SSA) Space Situational Awareness (SSA) is the science of tracking objects (man-made and natural) that are in orbit and also predicting where they would be at a given point in time. So far, only America, Russia and Europe have similar established capabilities in place to track space objects and share collision warnings. In late 2020, the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) had set up a dedicated Control Centre to monitor, track and protect India’s space assets and coordinate between Indian agencies, their foreign counterparts and international bodies. The Directorate of Space Situational Awareness and Management (DSSAM) has been established at ISRO to enhance Space Situational Awareness. An entity focused on SSA is much-needed owing to the manner in which space is getting over-populated with government, private satellites, man-made space debris which pose a serious threat to satellites that are orbiting the earth. Watch | Gravitas: Russia destroys satellite, releases big cloud of 'space junk' According to ISRO, the NEtwork for space object TRacking and Analysis (NETRA) project is initiated as a first step towards meeting this goal. NETRA’s main elements would be a radar, an optical telescope facility, and a control centre. ISRO’s SSA Control Centre, “NETRA”, is now set up within the ISTRAC campus at Peenya, Bangalore. Some core SSA activities will comprise close approach analysis between ISRO’s satellite and launch vehicles, timely dissemination of advance alerts on collision avoidance of space assets, prediction of atmospheric re-entry of derelict satellites and rocket bodies.

Explained: How India’s Lunar Orbiter Chandrayaan-2 avoided Collision with NASA’s LRO

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