GSLV-F16 SET FOR LAUNCH TODAY WITH INDO-US NISAR SATELLITE ONBOARD

Everything is now in place for the highly anticipated launch of the GSLV-F16 rocket from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota. Scheduled for liftoff at 5:40 pm IST today, this mission marks a historic milestone in international space collaboration, as it will carry the NISAR satellite-jointly developed by India’s ISRO and the United States’ NASA-into orbit.

NISAR, short for NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar, is one of the most advanced Earth observation satellites ever built. It is designed to monitor Earth’s changing ecosystems, dynamic surfaces, and natural hazards in unprecedented detail. The mission aims to provide critical data for climate change studies, agricultural planning, and disaster response over the next decade.

This satellite combines the technological prowess of both space agencies. NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) has provided the L-band radar system, while ISRO has contributed the S-band radar, spacecraft bus, and launch vehicle. This dual-frequency radar configuration allows for high-resolution and frequent imaging of Earth’s land and ice surfaces, regardless of weather or time of day.

The GSLV-F16 (Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle) is equipped with ISRO’s indigenous cryogenic upper stage engine, a key technological achievement that allows it to place heavier payloads into geosynchronous transfer orbits. Today’s mission is a significant demonstration of India’s capability to support major global scientific efforts using its own launch infrastructure.

The NISAR satellite is expected to orbit Earth at an altitude of approximately 747 kilometers in a near-polar sun-synchronous orbit. From there, it will scan nearly the entire globe every 12 days, mapping changes such as land subsidence, glacier movements, and vegetation cover. Scientists from both countries say the data will be crucial for climate modeling, resource management, and environmental monitoring.

In addition to its scientific value, this mission is symbolic of the growing cooperation between India and the United States in the field of space exploration. The NISAR project began in 2014 and represents nearly a decade of shared development, engineering exchange, and mission planning. It is one of the largest collaborations between NASA and ISRO to date.

With today’s launch, ISRO also reaffirms its growing reliability in launching high-value international payloads. The space agency has now conducted multiple successful GSLV launches, and the inclusion of such a critical satellite only strengthens its reputation as a trusted partner for global missions. The launch is also expected to draw attention from the global scientific community for its sheer scale and technological innovation.

As countdown operations proceed smoothly, space enthusiasts across India and the U.S. are closely following the event. The successful deployment of NISAR will mark a new chapter in Earth science, combining space technology and environmental monitoring to create a more sustainable future. If all goes as planned, the data from NISAR will begin flowing in just weeks after it stabilizes in orbit.