ISRO Launches NASA-ISRO NISAR Earth Observation Satellite

India's space agency ISRO has successfully launched the NISAR satellite in collaboration with NASA, marking a significant milestone in Indo-US space cooperation. The satellite was placed into a precise Sun Synchronous Polar Orbit by the GSLV-F16 rocket, with ISRO providing the spacecraft bus and launch services, while NASA contributed critical radar and communication components. This mission follows earlier joint efforts such as the Axiom and NISAR missions and precedes the planned launch of the Block 2 BlueBird satellite, a six-tonne communication satellite developed by US-based AST SpaceMobile, to be launched by ISRO's heavy-lift LVM3 rocket. ISRO plans to conduct nine more space missions this fiscal year, including Earth observation, communication, technology demonstration, and navigation satellites, with several launches involving new technology showcases and industry participation. The NISAR mission is expected to deliver valuable data on Earth's surface changes, supporting applications from environmental monitoring to disaster management, and represents the deepening strategic partnership highlighted by leaders from both nations. This collaboration underscores the growing bilateral focus on space as a key area of technological and diplomatic engagement between India and the United States.