Nasa’s work on the radar antenna reflector for the Nasa-Isro Synthetic Aperture Radar (Nisar) satellite is in its final stages in California.
Nisar mission is postponed
The American space agency has confirmed that testing is currently in progress to ensure the proper deployment of this crucial hardware component after its launch from India. The Nisar mission is a significant collaboration between Nasa and Isro. It is leveraging the expertise and resources of both organizations to enhance our understanding of Earth’s dynamic systems. Measuring approximately 39 feet (12 meters) across, the drum-shaped reflector is one of Nasa’s primary contributions to this joint mission with the Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro).
Objective of Nisar mission
Its purpose is to transmit and receive microwave signals to and from Earth’s surface. It allows Nisar to conduct comprehensive scans of nearly all the planet’s land and ice surfaces twice every 12 days in order to collect essential scientific data.In March, the reflector was brought back from India to a specialized facility in California. There, they put reflective tape on it and took precautions to prevent temperature changes that could affect deploying the reflector before starting scientific work.After testing, Nasa plans to take the reflector to an Isro facility in Bengaluru, India. At this facility, teams from Nasa’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California and Isro will put the reflector back with the radar system. Isro will decide on a launch date in coordination with Nasa.It’s important to know that Nisar can’t launch between early October 2024 and early February 2025. Nasa explained that launching during this time would expose the satellite to sunlight and shadows. It is causing temperature changes that could affect deploying Nisar’s boom and radar antenna reflector.
Significance of Nisar mission
Once Nisar is working, it will give scientists valuable data to monitor environmental changes and natural disasters. It helps with climate science and disaster management worldwide.
