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ISRO’s GSLV‑F16 to Launch Joint ISRO‑NASA Earth‑Observation Satellite NISAR.

Science and Technology | Dated: 22 Jul 2025

ISRO’s Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV)‑F16 is scheduled for liftoff on 30 July 2025 from Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota, carrying the NASA–ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR) satellite. This landmark ₹ 1.5 billion mission marks a major leap in Indo‑US collaboration for global Earth‑monitoring.

🎯 Key Highlights:

  • - NISAR, jointly developed by ISRO and NASA, combines **12 m deployable L‑band and S‑band Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR)**s to map global land and ice surfaces every 12 days at 5–10 m resolution. The mission carries a hefty 2,392 kg payload, making it the costliest Earth‑observation satellite to date at $1.5 billion.
  • - The mission will use GSLV‑F16 (Mk II), a 3‑stage rocket with 4 liquid strap‑ons and a second stage (GS2) powered by the Vikas engine. The rocket can carry 2,500 kg to Geostationary Transfer Orbit and 5,000 kg to Low Earth Orbit, making it ideal for this mission.
  • - ISRO flagged off GSLV’s GS2 liquid stage from IPRC Mahendragiri to Sriharikota on 24 April 2025, and the launch campaign began in early April 2025. Final pre‑launch checks for GSLV‑F16 and NISAR are underway as launch approaches.

💡 Other Important Facts:

  • (i) NISAR will monitor ecosystem changes, ice‑sheet dynamics, sea-level rise, groundwater levels, earthquakes, landslides, and volcanic activity under all weather and lighting conditions, aiding climate science, disaster management, and infrastructure policy.
  • (ii) ISRO contributes ₹788 crore (~$95 million), while NASA provides key radar systems and data architecture, reflecting a strategic Indo‑US partnership in space. NISAR reinforces “Atmanirbhar Bharat Defence” through advanced launch vehicle capabilities.
  • (iii) Liftoff is planned for 30 July 2025 at 17:40 IST, placing NISAR into a ~743 km sun‑synchronous orbit, with a mission duration of at least three years. The data will be publicly available to researchers worldwide, supporting open‑science and global environmental monitoring.

📚 Test Your Knowledge:

Recently, which joint Earth observation satellite is being developed by ISRO and NASA to monitor land and ice surfaces using dual-frequency radar?

Correct Answer: NISAR

🚀 Quick Recap:

About ISRO

  • Chairman : Dr. V. Narayanan
  • Headquarters: Bengaluru