NASA-ISRO Satellite Sends 1st Radar Images of Earth's Surface

Captured on Aug. 21, this image from NISAR’s L-band radar shows Maine’s Mount Desert Island. Green indicates forest; magenta represents hard or regular surfaces, like bare ground and buildings. The magenta area on the island’s northeast end is the town of Bar Harbor. (Credit: NASA/Pl-Caltech) 

The NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR) satellite has successfully transmitted its first radar images of Earth’s surface, marking a major milestone in the joint U.S.-India mission.

Highlights from the First Radar Images

• Mount Desert Island, Maine (Aug 21):
  • Captured using NASA’s L-band radar.
  • Forests appear green, water bodies in dark tones, and urban areas in magenta.
  • The town of Bar Harbor is clearly visible, showcasing the radar’s ability to distinguish land cover types.
• Forest River, North Dakota (Aug 23):
  • Shows wetlands, forests, and farmland with circular irrigation plots.
  • Differentiates fallow fields from active crops like corn and soybeans.

On Aug. 23, NISAR imaged land adjacent to northeastern North Dakota’s Forest River. Light-colored wetlands and forests line the river’s banks, while circular and rectangular plots throughout the image appear in shades that indicate the land may be pasture or cropland with corn or soy. (Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech) 

What Makes NISAR Unique

• Dual Radar System: Combines NASA’s L-band with ISRO’s S-band for comprehensive Earth surface analysis.
• High Resolution: Can resolve features as small as 5 meters.
• Global Coverage: Orbits Earth every 12 days from 747 km altitude.

Applications

• Disaster response (e.g., landslides, floods, earthquakes)
• Agricultural monitoring and food security
• Climate change and ecosystem tracking
• Infrastructure and urban planning

Science operations begin November 2025. NISAR is set to revolutionize Earth observation and environmental monitoring.

Source – usembassy.gov