Daily Current Affairs : 14-November-2024
The NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR) satellite is a collaborative effort between the United States’ National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and India’s Space Research Organisation (ISRO). It is set to launch in early 2025 and promises to revolutionize the way we monitor Earth’s surface. NISAR is the first satellite to carry both NASA’s L-band radar and ISRO’s S-band radar, making it a unique and powerful tool for gathering data from space.
What is NISAR?
Background:
NISAR was developed through a partnership agreement signed between NASA and ISRO in 2014. It will be launched from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Andhra Pradesh, India, using ISRO’s Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle Mark II. The satellite will operate in low Earth orbit, mapping the entire globe every 12 days.
Objective:
The main goal of NISAR is to monitor Earth’s surface in great detail. It will provide valuable data on ecosystems, ice mass, vegetation, sea level rise, groundwater, and natural disasters like earthquakes, tsunamis, volcanoes, and landslides.
Key Features of NISAR
- Thermal Blanketing:
NISAR uses gold-colored thermal blankets that regulate the satellite’s temperature during operations, ensuring optimal performance. - Key Components:
- Radar Payload: This is the core instrument that enables surface observation.
- Spacecraft Bus: Provides essential functions like power, communication, navigation, and pointing control.
- Antenna and Reflector: The satellite features a large 12-meter drum-shaped wire-mesh reflector, the biggest of its kind in space, which helps enhance radar signal focus and observation capabilities.
Technological Advancements
NISAR combines two advanced radar systems:
- L-band Radar:
This radar can penetrate dense vegetation, making it ideal for observing volcanic and seismic zones, where ground motion is critical. - S-band Radar:
Operating at a frequency of 2-4 GHz, this radar provides highly precise surface monitoring with wavelengths of 8-15 cm. This radar enhances NISAR’s ability to detect smaller surface changes.
Applications of NISAR
NISAR’s data collection capabilities have wide-ranging applications:
- Comprehensive Monitoring:
It tracks both horizontal and vertical movements of Earth’s surface, offering insights even at night or through cloud cover. - Disaster Mitigation:
NISAR is vital for monitoring seismic activities, landslides, volcanic eruptions, and shifts in ice sheets, helping in disaster preparedness and impact reduction. - Environmental Tracking:
The satellite helps track the condition of forests, wetlands, farmlands, and deforestation, supporting sustainable environmental practices. - Infrastructure Stability:
NISAR can assess the stability of infrastructure, monitor urbanization, and detect oil spills, contributing to better resource and disaster management. - Data-Driven Decision-Making:
The data NISAR gathers is crucial for understanding tectonic movements, promoting sustainable and informed use of resources across the globe.
Important Points:
Key Points about the NISAR Satellite
- Collaboration: A joint project between NASA (USA) and ISRO (India) set to launch in early 2025.
- Unique Radar Technology: First satellite to carry both NASA’s L-band radar and ISRO’s S-band radar.
- Launch Details: To be launched from Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Andhra Pradesh, India, using ISRO’s Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle Mark II.
- Objective: To map Earth’s surface every 12 days, providing data on ecosystems, ice mass, vegetation, sea level rise, groundwater, and natural disasters.
Key Features:
- Thermal Blanketing: Gold-colored thermal blankets maintain the satellite’s temperature during operation.
- Key Components:
- Radar Payload: Core instrument for surface observation.
- Spacecraft Bus: Provides power, communications, and navigation.
- Antenna and Reflector: A 12-meter drum-shaped wire-mesh reflector enhances radar signal focus.
Technological Advancements:
- Dual Radar Systems:
- L-band Radar: Penetrates dense vegetation, ideal for seismic and volcanic regions.
- S-band Radar: Offers precise surface monitoring with 8-15 cm wavelength and 2-4 GHz frequency.
Applications:
- Comprehensive Monitoring: Tracks both horizontal and vertical surface movements, even in cloudy conditions or at night.
- Disaster Mitigation: Monitors earthquakes, tsunamis, landslides, and volcanic eruptions for disaster management.
- Environmental Tracking: Monitors forests, wetlands, farmlands, and deforestation for sustainability.
- Infrastructure Stability: Assesses infrastructure health, monitors urbanization, and detects oil spills.
- Data-Driven Decision-Making: Aids in understanding tectonic movements and supports sustainable resource use.
Why In News
The NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR) satellite, a groundbreaking collaborative project between the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), is scheduled for launch in early 2025, marking a significant milestone in space-based Earth observation. This mission aims to provide critical data for monitoring and understanding global environmental and geological changes.
MCQs about NISAR
-
What is the primary objective of the NISAR satellite?
A. To explore the moon
B. To monitor global surface movements and natural disasters
C. To study the composition of distant planets
D. To measure solar radiation
-
Which two radar systems are integrated into the NISAR satellite?
A. X-band and K-band
B. L-band and S-band
C. C-band and U-band
D. P-band and Q-band
-
Where will the NISAR satellite be launched from?
A. Kennedy Space Center, USA
B. Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan
C. Satish Dhawan Space Centre, India
D. Vandenberg Space Force Base, USA
-
What is the function of the 12-meter drum-shaped wire-mesh reflector on NISAR?
A. To increase satellite’s power
B. To enhance radar signal focus and observation capabilities
C. To regulate temperature
D. To help in communication with Earth
Boost up your confidence by appearing our Weekly Current Affairs Multiple Choice Questions
