India and the United States are set to collaborate on launching a joint microwave remote sensing satellite, named NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR), for Earth observation in early 2024. Dr. Jitendra Singh, the Union Minister, disclosed this development after a meeting with a delegation from NASA led by Administrator Bill Nelson. The satellite, designed to operate on a Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV) under the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), will provide data for studying land ecosystems, solid earth deformation, mountain and polar cryosphere, as well as sea ice and coastal oceans on a regional to global scale.
Administrator Bill Nelson conveyed congratulations to the Indian Minister for the success of Chandrayaan-3 and encouraged the acceleration of India’s program to send its first astronaut aboard a NASA rocket to the International Space Station (ISS). Additionally, the two nations agreed to initiate a two-week joint India-US space flight in the coming year, with NASA identifying opportunities for Indian astronauts in a Private Astronaut Mission slated for 2024.
Simultaneously, ISRO is exploring the feasibility of leveraging NASA’s Hypervelocity Impact Test (HVIT) facility for testing Gaganyaan module micrometeoroid and orbital debris (MMOD) protection shields. A joint working group (JWG) on human spaceflight cooperation has been established between the space agencies, delving into collaborative studies on radiation impact, micro meteorite and orbital debris shields, and space health and medicine aspects.
