New Delhi, July 27 (NationPress) Union Minister of State for Science and Technology Dr. Jitendra Singh stated on Sunday that the impending launch of the NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR) satellite represents a pivotal milestone in India’s space odyssey and its international scientific collaborations.

Describing it as "India’s scientific handshake with the globe," Dr. Singh emphasized that this mission embodies the increasing maturity of Indo-US partnerships and the expanding influence of the ISRO in global space endeavors.

NISAR, India’s inaugural Earth observation mission developed jointly with the US, is scheduled for launch on July 30 at 5:40 p.m. from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota.

The satellite will be deployed aboard India’s GSLV-F16 rocket, marking the first occasion a GSLV rocket will be used to position a satellite in a sun-synchronous polar orbit, highlighting the advancing technical prowess of ISRO.

Speaking to the media in the national capital, the minister conveyed that NISAR transcends mere satellite deployment; it stands as a strong symbol of how two democratic nations can unite to address global scientific requirements.

"This mission will not only benefit India and the US but also numerous countries worldwide. It will furnish essential data in areas such as disaster management, climate change, agriculture, and beyond," he remarked.

Developed collaboratively by ISRO and NASA over the past decade, NISAR integrates the technological strengths of both space agencies.

NASA has contributed the L-band SAR system, a high-rate telecommunication subsystem, GPS receivers, and a 12-meter unfurlable antenna, while ISRO has supplied the S-band SAR payload, satellite bus, GSLV-F16 launch vehicle, and all necessary services.

Weighing 2,392 kg, the satellite will monitor the Earth's surface every 12 days, enabling the detection of even the most subtle movements and alterations.

Dr. Singh noted that the mission aligns with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of India as a “Vishwa Bandhu,” or a global partner dedicated to the collective welfare of humanity.

He added that the satellite’s data will be made publicly available to all users within one to two days of observation, and even more rapidly in emergency situations.

This open-access policy will particularly assist developing nations that lack advanced Earth observation capabilities.