About

• It is a collaboration between NASA and ISRO to observe Earth using radar.
• Radar Bands Used:
  • L-band (NASA): Penetrates soil and vegetation, ideal for monitoring land subsidence, deforestation, and soil moisture.
  • S-band (ISRO): Useful for observing localized surface movements, such as earthquakes, volcanoes, and glaciers.
• Technology:
  • It uses Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) for high-resolution imaging.
  • It operates in all weather conditions day or night (it can penetrates clouds and darkness).
• Imaging Capability:
  • Imaging swath of 150 miles (240 km), covering large areas in short time.
  • Capable of mapping the entire Earth every 12 days.
• Key Applications:
  • Monitor glacier movement, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, cropland changes, and hazard zones.
  • Track long-term environmental changes and emergency response to crises.
• Operational Duration:
  • 3 years of global operations (NASA, L-band).
  • 5 years of operations over specific areas (ISRO, S-band).
• Data Availability:
  • All data will be open and freely available to the public, in line with NASA's open data policy.
  • Data hosted by the Alaska Satellite Facility DAAC.
• Launch Details:
  • Planned for 2024 from Satish Dhawan Space Center, Sriharikota, India.
  • Will operate in a near-polar orbit.
• Long-term Benefits:
  • Helps in resource management, disaster management, and climate change mitigation.