Part II
NISAR (NASA-ISRO SAR Mission)
One shining example of this collaboration is NISAR – NASA-ISRO SAR Mission. This joint Synthetic Aperture Radar mission between the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) aims at launching a dual-frequency synthetic aperture radar satellite for Earth observation.
Satellite Aperture Radar(SAR)
Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) is a type of radar system that uses the motion of the radar antenna over a target region to provide high-resolution images of the terrain or objects on the ground. Instead of relying on a single pulse of radio waves, SAR continuously transmits a series of pulses while the antenna moves, and then uses sophisticated signal processing techniques to combine these signals to create a detailed image.
The purpose of SAR is to provide high-quality imaging of the Earth’s surface, which can be used for a variety of applications such as mapping, environmental monitoring, resource management, disaster response, and military reconnaissance.
The NISAR mission is designed to provide accurate data on the Earth’s surface, including detailed maps of forest cover, sea ice, and soil moisture. The satellite is expected to be launched in 2023. It will measure Earth’s changing ecosystems, dynamic surfaces, and ice masses providing information about biomass, natural hazards, sea level rise, and groundwater, and will support a host of other applications.
NISAR will observe Earth’s land and ice-covered surfaces globally with 12-day regularity on ascending and descending passes, sampling Earth on an average every 6 days for a baseline 3-year mission. It will orbit at an altitude of 747 km at an orbit inclination of 98.4 degree.
The mission has strategic importance for military and intelligence agencies because it can be used to detect and track objects on the ground, such as vehicles, ships, and aircraft, even in adverse weather conditions or at night. It can also be used to identify changes in the terrain or infrastructure, which can indicate the presence of military activity or the development of new facilities.
Significance
Several countries produce SAR systems, including the United States, Russia, China, and many countries of Europe. These systems are primarily used for military and intelligence purposes, but they can also be used for scientific and commercial applications. The specific purposes and capabilities of each country’s SAR systems are not publicly disclosed, as they are considered to be sensitive information.
The NISAR mission has significant implications for Indo-US relations. It represents a major milestone in the partnership between the two countries in the field of space exploration and technology. In addition to deepening the scientific and technological cooperation between the two countries, the NISAR mission will help both India and the United States to address global challenges, such as climate change, natural resource management, disaster response, and food security. The data generated by the NISAR mission will be useful for a range of applications, including monitoring crop yields, predicting and responding to natural disasters, and tracking changes in sea ice and coastal ecosystems.
It is a major progress in the Indo-US relationship.The mission is expected to bring benefits to both countries and to the world as a whole.
Adding to India’s Diplomatic Heft
From India’s perspective, the NISAR mission and other collaborations in the science and technology field between India and the US are likely to add to her increasing global diplomatic clout. Her scientific and technological capabilities are critical behind her growing standing and reputation as a global power.
India’s successful Mars mission in 2014, which was carried out with indigenous technology, received widespread international recognition and praise. The mission demonstrated India’s scientific and technological prowess, leading to increased global respect and admiration for the country.
Beginning with the US-India Joint declaration on Strategic Partnership for the 21st Century in 2015 that US President Barack Obama and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi jointly announced in 2015, India’s scientific and technological capabilities have been recognised by international organisations. In 2018, India was elected as a member of the United Nations Commission on Science and Technology for Development (UNCSTD), which is responsible for advising the UN General Assembly on science and technology issues.
NISAR in many ways is a fine example of a bilateral initiative that is not only technologically complex and sophisticated but one that has an unprecedented potential for enhanced understanding of complex natural phenomena on one hand, and a strategic superiority in tactical defence concerns, on the other.
But more than anything else, It underlines the state priority in pursuing a paradigm push in strengthening her diplomatic depth, deft and dominance.
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