Isro and Nasa join hands to develop data satellite by 2021

New Delhi: India's space agency ISRO and USA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) of the NASA are jointly working on the development of a 'Dual Frequency (L&S band) Synthetic Aperture Radar Imaging Satellite' which will be useful for variety of applications including natural resources mapping and monitoring. The joint mission is expected to bring result by 2021. Named as the Nasa-Isro Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR),

the satellite will also be used for estimating agricultural biomass over full duration of crop cycle, assessing soil moisture, monitoring of floods and oil slicks, coastal erosion, coastline changes and variation of winds in coastal waters, assessment of mangroves and surface deformation studies among others.

"The Isro and the JPL/Nasa are working towards realization of this mission by 2021. Both agencies have obtained necessary approvals from respective governments", said the minister of state in the Prime Minister's Office (PMO), atomic energy and space, Jitendra Singh, in his written reply to a Parliament question in Rajya Sabha on Thursday.

He said, "The core science teams of India and USA meet every six months to discuss various observation requirements and strategies of science observation. The technical teams of both the agencies are working towards building the necessary systems".

The minister informed the Upper House that the JPL/Nasa would be responsible for design and development of L-band SAR, 12m unfurlable antenna and its deployment elements, GPS system and data recorder in this joint mission. "The Isro will be responsible for design & development of S-band SAR, Spacecraft bus, data transmission system, Spacecraft integration & testing, launch using GSLV and on-orbit operations", said Singh.