NISAR Launched By ISRO-NASA On GSLV-F16 In Historic First, Promises Global Earth Observation Data

New Delhi: Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) on Friday described the launch of the NISAR, an earth observation satellite collaboration between the ISRO and its American counterpart, NASA, as a "milestone" in global space collaboration.

The space organisation shared the video of the NISAR launching aboard the GSLV-F16 and its precise separation, captured on board, which was launched from Sriharikota on Wednesday evening.

"From a majestic liftoff to the flawless separation, witness the full journey. Watch spectacular moments of NISAR launching aboard GSLV-F16 and its precise separation, captured on board," ISRO said in a post on X.

"A milestone in global space collaboration," it added.

The NISAR mission, a landmark in ISRO-NASA cooperation, will redefine Earth observation.

A joint mission of NASA and ISRO, the Earth satellite launched from Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh, on India's southeastern coast aboard an ISRO Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle rocket at 5.40 pm on Wednesday.

NISAR launched into orbit onboard the Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle GSLV-F16. Usually, PSLV was utilised for such an orbit, and this is the first time that a GSLV rocket was injecting a satellite into a Sun Synchronous Polar Orbit.

Meanwhile, NASA Programme Executive Sangamithra Datta described the launch of NISAR as a "historic milestone".

Datta highlighted the historic collaboration between NASA and ISRO on a major earth-observing mission, emphasising the joint efforts of scientists and engineers from both agencies in designing and building the project.

"This is definitely historic because it's the first big Earth observing mission that two big space agencies are working on, both elite- NASA and the Indian Space Research Organisation... Two sets of great minds, scientists and engineers from both NASA and ISRO working together ... making frequent trips and making long-distance teleconferences and then building it, designing, thinking, building it together so that exactly everything fits perfectly," she said.

She emphasised the global significance of the NISAR mission, noting that after a three-month commissioning period, the mission will provide free and open science data to the global community.

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