ISRO and NASA may be in discussions for joint production of a satellite together:http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/nasa-isro-in-talks-for-developing-satellite-jointly/articleshow/21455665.cmsI wonder who will launch it? India may be cheaper in this respect.
From the drawing board to the review room: Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) and US' National Aeronautics and Space Administration (Nasa), who were in talks to co-develop a dual frequency synthetic aperture radar late last year. Now, the talks have converted into a project, with Nasa even having cleared Isro's instrument design.
The project, which Nasa terms Nasa-Isro Synthetic Aperture Radar (Nisar) will use advanced imaging that will provide an unprecedented, detailed view of the earth. "It is being designed to observe and take measurements of some of the planet's most complex processes, including ecosystem disturbances, ice-sheet collapse, and natural hazards such as earthquakes, tsunamis, volcanoes and landslides," Nasa's Jet Propulsion Laboratory has said.
This was just after the initial mission concept review was done on October 15-16, 2013. On March 19, 2014, the project passed the crucial Key Decision Point-A (KDP-A) review, which, is an important stage in Nasa's Exploration Systems Mission Directorate's project life cycle module. Following this, the agency will begin reviewing the critical design review, systems integration and operational readiness. Subsequent to this, on March 27, 2014, Isro's instrument design passed Nasa's review, which sources said, is another level of acceptability and a sign that the project's a 'go ahead'.
Mission concept:* Launch date: September 2020* New Two-frequency L- and S-band Synthetic Aperture Radar(SAR)* New Sweep SAR technique for rapid global data collection* Orbit: * 747km altitude circular * 98 degrees inclination * Sun-synchronous, dawn-dusk (6 AM – 6 PM) * Exact 12-day repeat within +/- 250 m* 3 years science operations, but could last many more years* Data are 10 m resolution or coarser, suitable for science and civilian applications* Science data from both L- and S-band SAR will be available without any restrictions
Radar payload concept:* World's first dual frequency (L- and S- band) spaceborne SweepSAR* Repeat pass interferometry* Fully polarimetric SAR capability* Array-fed reflector (boresight at ~37 degrees from nadir, transmitting a fan beam, and receiving with multiple pencil beams) * Shared reflector for both L- and S-bands * Separate L- and S-band feeds * 240 km swath * 12 m diameter reflector* Observatory pointing control +/- 0.1 degree* Active front-end electronics, high efficiency T/R module, high rate analog-to-digital converter (ADC), and on-board processing
NISAR science workshop is planned to be organized at Space Applications Centre (ISRO), Ahmedabad during 17-18 November 2014 with the primary objectives of: informing and involving Indian applications community about NISAR mission; exploring new applications of dual-frequency SAR data; and searching for collaborative opportunities. A team of scientists from NASA / USA is likely to participate in the workshop.The workshop invites from the participants, new ideas and innovations on SAR applications for societal benefit. Interested participants will display a poster or make 5-minutes presentations showing new applications and innovative techniques for SAR data utilization. Selected ideas have a chance for being considered for support under NISAR Science programme.
Meanwhile, SAC which is a part of the NISAR (NASA-ISRO SAR) mission – a joint project between NASA and ISRO – has completed the baseline design review of the payload that will help study the hazards and global environmental change.
30-July-2015 17:34 ISTISRO and NASA jointly working on NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR) missionISRO and NASA are jointly working on the NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR) mission to codevelop and launch a dual frequency synthetic aperture radar satellite.NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR) mission is a dual frequency (L & S Band) Radar Imaging Satellite. In this joint mission, JPL/ NASA will be responsible for design & development of L-band SAR, 12m unfurlable antenna, GPS system and data recorder. 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. The aim and objectives of NISAR mission are:• Design, Develop and launch a Dual frequency (L and S Band) Radar Imaging Satellite.• Explore newer application areas using L and S band microwave data, especially in natural resources mapping & monitoring; 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; surface deformation studies due to seismic activities etc.Implementation Arrangement (IA), defining the roles and responsibilities of ISRO and NASA has been signed by the two agencies in September 2014. ISRO has completed the Baseline Design Reviews of Spacecraft and S-band SAR payload. JPL has successfully completed the Mission Concept and Key Decision Point reviews. The first Joint Steering Group (JSG) meeting of NISAR was held on July 21, 2015. NISAR satellite is expected to be launched during the year 2021.The cost of the project comprises of (i) cost of ISRO’s work share, which is estimated to be Rs 788.00 Cr and (ii) cost of JPL’s work share, which is expected to be around USD 808 millions.This information was given by the Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Development of North-Eastern Region (DoNER), MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh in reply to unstarred question in Rajya Sabha today.****
SRIHARIKOTA (AP): India and US have set a target of 2021 to put their collaborative earth observation satellite NISAR in orbit, ISRO Chairman A S Kiran Kumar said today.Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) was working with National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) of the US to undertake the launch of NISAR by 2021, he told reporters here after the successful launch of GSAT-6 onboard GSLV-D6."One of the GSLV Mark II will carry NASA's satellite NISAR in 2021. There is a very good chance of commercial requirement. Currently we are working on it," he said.
NASA ISRO SAR Mission (NISAR) is expected to be launched on board GSLV-D6 in 2020-21, ISRO Chairman A.S. Kiran Kumar said,Answering a query, a senior ISRO scientist said that using India’s GSLV and not going for space agencies abroad for launching satellites weighing up to 2 tonne would help save on foreign exchange. GSLV will cost just one third of the cost we have to spend on foreign agencies, he said.A senior official said that there were about 10 Indian satellites which were lined up to be launched on board GSLV -D6.
Isro Chairman confirms that GSLV-D6 Rocket will be used for launching ISRO-NASA mission. Here is the report from the Hindu.ISRO-NASA mission to use GSLV-D6 rocketQuoteNASA ISRO SAR Mission (NISAR) is expected to be launched on board GSLV-D6 in 2020-21, ISRO Chairman A.S. Kiran Kumar said,Answering a query, a senior ISRO scientist said that using India’s GSLV and not going for space agencies abroad for launching satellites weighing up to 2 tonne would help save on foreign exchange. GSLV will cost just one third of the cost we have to spend on foreign agencies, he said.A senior official said that there were about 10 Indian satellites which were lined up to be launched on board GSLV -D6.--- [ --- ]
The NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) announced their selection of Astro Aerospace, a Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) company, to design and manufacture the radar antenna for its NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR) satellite.
NASA-ISRO scientists set to come together for outreach programmeOn Monday, some of the NASA scientists will be visiting Gujarat Science City for a special outreach programme with students. “A team of seven scientists from NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory and three others from ISRO will be visiting us. They will be largely be talking about the NISAR mission to about 200-odd science and engineering students,” said Narottam Sahoo, advisor and member secretary at Gujarat Council of Science and Technology (GUJCOST) which is organising the event along with Gujarat Science City.
