NASA and ISRO will declare the NISAR Satellite operational on November 7, 2025, marking a major leap in global Earth observation and climate research.
NISAR Satellite to Go Operational on November 7, Marking a Milestone in NASA-ISRO Collaboration
TheInterviewTimes.com | New Delhi | November5, 2025 — In a historic moment for space exploration, NASA and ISRO will officially declare the NISAR Satellite operational on November 7, 2025. This joint mission—NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR)—represents a new era in Earth observation, environmental monitoring, and climate science. It is among the most ambitious international collaborations in space technology between the United States and India.
Launched on July 30, 2025, from India’s Satish Dhawan Space Centre, the NISAR Satellite has completed its extensive calibration and testing phases. According to ISRO Chairman V. Narayanan, the satellite is ready to begin full-scale science operations, with the formal declaration scheduled for Friday.
Go NISAR! 🚀
— NASA (@NASA) July 30, 2025
The joint NASA-India satellite aboard @ISRO's Geosynchronous Launch Vehicle launched from the southeast Indian coast at 8:10am ET (1210 UTC) on its mission to monitor Earth's changing land and ice surfaces. pic.twitter.com/2Y3LUxlM2D
NISAR Satellite: The World’s Most Advanced Earth Observation Mission
Valued at approximately $1.5 billion, the NISAR Satellite is the most expensive and sophisticated Earth observation satellite ever built. It uses cutting-edge dual-frequency synthetic aperture radar (SAR) technology operating in both L-band and S-band frequencies—an engineering feat that enables it to map the Earth’s surface with unmatched accuracy.
The L-band radar penetrates dense forest canopies to measure soil moisture, forest biomass, and even minor land movements as small as one centimeter. Meanwhile, the S-band radar, developed by ISRO, specializes in detecting smaller changes in agricultural fields, snow cover, and vegetation patterns. Together, these systems allow the NISAR Satellite to scan the Earth’s land and ice surfaces every 12 days, providing a complete global snapshot regardless of cloud cover or weather conditions.
At the heart of this mission is NASA’s largest-ever space-deployed antenna—a 12-meter drum-shaped reflector that captures radar images spanning up to 240 kilometers in width.
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NISAR Satellite and Its Global Impact on Climate Science
With its operationalization, the NISAR Satellite is set to transform global understanding of critical Earth systems. It will provide continuous, high-resolution data to monitor glaciers, ice sheets, forest degradation, and agricultural changes. Scientists expect it to enhance early warning systems for natural disasters such as landslides, volcanic eruptions, and earthquakes.
According to ISRO Chairman V. Narayanan, “The entire data calibration process has been completed successfully. Every 12 days, NISAR will scan the Earth, making it an invaluable satellite for scientific and practical applications.”
The data collected by the NISAR Satellite will be made publicly available every 12 days, offering researchers, policymakers, and disaster management agencies worldwide crucial insights into environmental and climatic shifts.
NASA and ISRO: A Model for International Space Cooperation
The NISAR Satellite exemplifies successful collaboration between NASA and ISRO. NASA contributed the L-band radar and advanced antenna systems, while ISRO developed the S-band radar, spacecraft bus, and launch infrastructure. This partnership, established in 2014, represents the largest and most advanced joint mission ever undertaken by the two space agencies.
Karen St. Germain, Director of NASA’s Earth Science Division, emphasized the mission’s importance:
“From cutting-edge research to decision-making applications, the NISAR Satellite will transform how societies understand and respond to natural hazards, resource challenges, and sustainable development goals.”
NISAR Satellite: A New Era of Earth Observation Begins
As the NISAR Satellite becomes fully operational on November 7, 2025, it marks a defining moment in global space science. Its precise radar mapping capabilities will revolutionize environmental monitoring, climate modeling, and planetary change assessment.
By bridging U.S. technological excellence and India’s growing space infrastructure, the NISAR Satellite underscores the power of international cooperation in tackling humanity’s most pressing environmental challenges. It will not only redefine how scientists observe the planet but also provide actionable intelligence to safeguard ecosystems, predict natural disasters, and support sustainable living worldwide.
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Key Takeaway
The declaration of the NISAR Satellite operational status on November 7 cements its position as one of the most powerful tools in space-based Earth observation. This mission symbolizes a future where collaborative innovation drives planetary resilience and scientific discovery.