The United States and India are teaming up on a new satellite mission designed to monitor changes to Earth’s surface and atmosphere. The satellite, known as NISAR, will scan the planet every six days for at least the next five years.
The shuttle successfully launched from Satish Dhawan Space Centre on India’s southeastern coast on July 30.
Scientists say the data will provide crucial insights into earthquakes, melting glaciers and other dynamic planetary processes.
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“NISAR is actually observing changes in vegetation and vegetation cover, as well as changes to the ground surface underneath,” said Adrian Borsa of the NISAR Science Team.
The satellite’s images will allow researchers to assess both surface and subsurface changes. In the U.S., NISAR will track earthquakes and volcanoes along the West Coast, monitor flooding from hurricanes in the Southeast, and detect land subsidence related to groundwater use in the Midwest.
Key for farmers
For the nation’s farmers, this information is expected to be especially valuable.
“NISAR is definitely going to be a breakthrough for field-scale soil moisture, which is a major driver of both food security and economic commodity forecasts,” said Nate Torbick of the NISAR Science Team.
Current land surface models struggle to quantify irrigation, but NISAR will help reveal how much water is being used to grow crops, giving farmers data to better manage resources. With this information, farmers can more accurately determine if they are using too much or too little water, or if drought conditions are impacting their fields.
Disaster prediction potential
Scientists also hope NISAR will help detect early signs of natural disasters.
“We’re going to be able to start studying tiny landslides and small quakes,” Nicky Fox, an associate administrator at NASA, said. “The goal is to find a signature that happens before a major disaster, which could allow us to predict big events before they occur.”
Unlike many satellites, NISAR’s imaging technology can see through clouds, allowing it to monitor Earth’s surface during storms and at night. The data from NISAR may help communities better prepare for disasters and improve water management practices, leading to broad benefits across sectors.
According to India Today, the total cost of the mission is $1.5 billion. Despite facing cutbacks, NASA is reportedly paying 80% of the bill.
