Context:
NASA and ISRO successfully conclude crucial tests in preparation for the upcoming launch of NISAR early next year.
About NISAR
- An Earth-observing mission
- Participating agencies – NASA and ISRO.
- Will be the first radar of its kind in space to systematically map Earth, using two different radar frequencies (L-band and S-band) to measure changes of our planet’s surface, including movements as small as centimeter.
- Objective – to make global measurements of the causes and consequences of land surface changes using advanced radar imaging.
- NISAR’s data can help
- manage natural resources and hazards,
- providing information for scientists to better understand the effects and pace of climate change.
- add to our understanding of our planet’s hard outer layer (crust)
- Planned Launch Date: 2024
- Data and product access – free and open
Synthetic aperture radar (SAR) refers to a technique for producing fine-resolution images from a resolution-limited radar system.
Applications of NISAR:
Data can be used to study
- Mountain Glaciers and Snow Hydrology
- Earthquake tracking – Location and Impact from Space
- Soil Moisture and Water Resources
- Changes in Permafrost
- Sinkholes and Cavern Collapse
- Volcanic Hazards, landslides, floods
- Induced Seismicity
- Flood Forecasting
Source: The Hindu
Previous year question
Consider the following statements:
The Mangalyaan launched by ISRO
1. is also called the Mars Orbiter Mission
2. made India the second country to have a spacecraft orbit the Mars after USA
3. made India the only country to be successful in making its spacecraft orbit the Mars in its very first attempt
Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct? [UPSC Civil Services Exam – 2016 Prelims]
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
Answer: (c)
Explanation:
The Mars Orbiter Mission also called Mangalyaan. Hence statement 1 is correct.
India is the only country to be successful in making its spacecraft orbit Mars in its very first attempt. Hence statement 3 is correct.
India is the first Asian country and ISRO is the fourth space agency to send a satellite to Mars after the Soviet space program, NASA, and the European Space Agency. Hence statement 2 is incorrect.