NISAR

NISAR (NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar) is the first Earth-observing satellite to carry dual-frequency synthetic aperture radar - an L-band instrument built by NASA and an S-band instrument by ISRO. Combining both frequencies enables imaging through clouds and forest canopies at any time of day. The satellite maps virtually the entire land surface and ice sheets twice every 12 days, measuring surface motion down to one centimeter - a precision designed for tracking ground deformation, ecosystem change, glacier dynamics, and disaster early warning.

The first payload carried to low Earth orbit by GSLV Mk II, and the first jointly developed satellite mission between NASA and ISRO.