Satellite, Recently Deployed, Expands Antenna in Space to Set New Record
The NISAR (NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar) satellite, designed to monitor Earth's changing surfaces, has successfully deployed its giant radar antenna in space. This significant event marks the beginning of the satellite's transformative Earth science mission.
The first radar system on NISAR, the L-band, is a remarkable piece of technology capable of seeing through clouds and forest canopies. Its counterpart, provided by ISRO, is more sensitive to light vegetation and moisture in snow, and can also penetrate clouds. Both systems are crucial for the satellite's mission, enabling it to monitor Earth's land and ice surfaces globally, twice every 12 days, under all weather and lighting conditions.
The deployment process was an intricate one. Over several days, a 9-meter boom extended from the satellite, followed by the release of the antenna reflector assembly. This release allowed the antenna to "bloom" like an umbrella, unfolding gradually while releasing stored tension in its flexible composite frame. Finally, motors and cables pulled the antenna into its fully locked position, forming a 12-meter-wide radar dish in orbit.
The NISAR antenna reflector, weighing about 64 kilograms, is as wide as the length of a school bus. This large, wire mesh reflector plays a critical role in the NISAR mission by directing and receiving microwave signals for the two sophisticated synthetic aperture radar (SAR) systems it carries.
Using special interferometric techniques, NISAR allows researchers and data users to create 3D movies of changes happening on Earth’s surface. This capability will provide unprecedented insights into Earth’s dynamic processes.
The NISAR mission, a joint effort between NASA and the Indian space agency ISRO, was launched on July 30 from Satish Dhawan Space Centre in India. Phil Barela, NISAR project manager at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, stated that the team is focusing on fine-tuning the satellite to begin delivering transformative science by late fall of this year.
With the successful deployment of its giant antenna, NISAR is set to revolutionise our understanding of Earth's natural and human-driven changes, offering high-resolution images and frequent revisit times. The satellite's transformative Earth science mission is now underway.
[References] 1. https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/nisar/main/index.html 2. https://www.isro.gov.in/nisar/ 3. https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/nisar/ 4. https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/08/210810121518.htm 5. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-02052-0
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