NISAR: Dual Frequencies - Single Purpose - For a Resilient Earth
Day: Friday 3 October
Time: 09:00 – 09:30 AEST
Location: Pyrmont Theatre, International Convention Centre (ICC) Sydney
The NASA–ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR) mission is a landmark in space-based Earth observation and international collaboration, launched onboard GSLV on July 30, 2025. Jointly developed by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), NISAR is the first mission to operate dual-frequency Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) on a single platform.
The SAR payloads employ the advanced SweepSAR technique with digital beam-forming to achieve a wide swath (>240 km) and centimeter level spatial resolution. The observatory features a 12-metre deployable mesh reflector, multi-stage boom deployment with open-loop control, and high-rate data downlink systems. NASA/JPL provided the L-band SAR with Antenna Reflector, while ISRO contributed the S-band SAR, spacecraft bus, systems integration and testing, and launch by GSLV.
NISAR’s ability to map the entire globe every 12 days with spatially and temporally consistent measurements enables transformative studies of Earth’s ecosystems, biomass, ice sheets, sea level, groundwater, and tectonic deformation. The mission will support disaster monitoring and response for hazards such as earthquakes, tsunamis, floods, volcanoes, and landslides. NISAR science products with datasets will be made available to the global scientific community including academia, research institutions, and user agencies.
The mission directly aligns with the IAC 2025 theme “Sustainable Space: Resilient Earth”. It contributes to a Resilient Earth by providing actionable information for resource management, and disaster preparedness.
NISAR comes at a critical moment of heightened global focus on environmental hazards. As NISAR is a technological first and a mission designed for global resilience, its datasets will directly support the UN Sustainable Development Goals. The proposed presentation jointly by ISRO and NASA, will feature mission engineering perspectives to practical societal applications, apart from emphasizing International cooperation. This LBN on NISAR will deliver a compelling and high-impact content for IAC-2025 attendees.
