The NISAR (NASA-ISRO Artificial Aperture Radar) observatory marks not solely the primary {hardware} collaboration on an Earth mission between NASA and the Indian Area Analysis Organisation (ISRO), but additionally the primary satellite tv for pc to deliver collectively L-band and S-band radar on one spacecraft. The mixture makes for an exceptionally highly effective artificial aperture radar that can present high-resolution information enabling scientists to comprehensively monitor the planet’s land and ice surfaces like by no means earlier than, constructing an in depth file of how they alter over time.
Right here’s a better take a look at the spacecraft:
- 2: Variety of science devices — an L-band artificial aperture radar system and an S-band artificial aperture radar system
- 18 ft (5.5 meters): Size of spacecraft physique and radar instrument payload
- 18 ft (5.5 meters): Size of every of the spacecraft’s two deployable motorized photo voltaic arrays, totaling about 250 sq. ft (23 sq. meters) in space. Collectively, they supply about 5 kilowatts of energy.
- 39 ft (12 meters): Diameter of the radar antenna reflector, which resembles a snare drum. The reflector will deploy on a increase that’s about 30 ft (9 meters) lengthy.
- 15: Variety of thrusters
- 5,250 kilos (2,380 kilograms): Approximate mass of the satellite tv for pc, together with propellant, on the time of launch
- 90 days: How lengthy the commissioning section is predicted to final after launch. Throughout this era, the mission staff will take a look at spacecraft methods, deploy the increase and large radar antenna reflector, and assess the efficiency of the radar devices. Science operations start after completion of the commissioning section.
- 14: Variety of occasions a day NISAR will circle Earth, orbiting at an altitude of 464 miles (747 kilometers). In doing so, NISAR will scan practically all of the planet’s land and ice surfaces twice each 12 days.
- 80 terabytes: How a lot information NISAR will ship to Earth every day — sufficient information to fill about 150 512-gigabyte onerous drives every day
- 0.4 inches (1 centimeter): How a lot vertical motion NISAR can detect over a plot of land or ice floor concerning the measurement of half a tennis courtroom
- 3 years: Period of NISAR’s prime mission
Be part of the dialog, comply with the launch, and get NISAR mission updates from these accounts:
X: @NASA, @NASAEarth, @NASAJPL
Fb: NASA, NASA Earth, NASA JPL
Instagram: @NASA, @NASAEarth, @NASAJPL
