NISAR stands for NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar. It is an Earth observation satellite developed jointly by NASA and the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), and it launched on July 30, 2025. NISAR is one of the most capable radar missions ever built, and it adds a valuable new source of data for studying how the Earth's surface changes. Learn more on NASA's NISAR mission page.
Two radar instruments on one mission
NISAR carries an L-band radar with a wavelength of about 24 centimeters and an S-band radar with a wavelength of about 9.4 centimeters. Both use synthetic aperture radar, so they can image the surface day or night and through most cloud cover. A large deployable reflector supports wide-area imaging.
The instruments collect radar imagery. Suitable repeated acquisitions can then be processed with InSAR to measure surface deformation. In other words, NISAR is a source of SAR observations, and InSAR is the technique that turns those observations into movement measurements.
What NISAR is designed to study
NASA lists land surface change, earthquakes and other geohazards, ice sheets, forests, crops and wetlands among the mission's science priorities. The mission overview describes a 12-day exact repeat cycle and a free and open data policy.
L-band data is acquired globally, while S-band acquisitions are more geographically focused. ISRO distributes S-band data through its own systems. A monitoring proposal should confirm what is available for your location and product.
What NISAR means for asset owners
NISAR broadens the evidence available for measuring deformation, especially in vegetated terrain where L-band performs well. For mining, infrastructure and energy teams, the value comes from combining it with reliable processing, a good history and professional interpretation. SkyGeo's introduction to InSAR explains how radar scenes become movement estimates. Not sure about the terminology? Read NISAR vs InSAR.
Frequently asked questions
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It is a joint NASA-ISRO mission, with responsibilities and data distribution shared between the two agencies.
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NISAR launched on July 30, 2025.
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NISAR collects the data. Turning it into a risk assessment requires processing, quality checks, interpretation and supporting observations, which is where specialists like SkyGeo come in.
Make new satellite data work for you
SkyGeo can advise how NISAR and other missions could support your monitoring program. Contact SkyGeo.
