NASA is nearing the final stages of completing the radar antenna reflector for the NISAR (NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar) satellite in California. The essential component, which measures approximately 39 feet (12 meters) in diameter, is undergoing rigorous tests to ensure it deploys correctly post-launch. This drum-shaped reflector is a significant NASA contribution to the NISAR mission, a collaborative project with the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) aimed at scanning nearly all of Earth’s land and ice surfaces twice every 12 days to gather critical data.
In March, the reflector was returned from India to a specialized California facility. There, various measures, including the application of reflective tape, were implemented to manage potential temperature increases that could impact the reflector’s deployment from its stowed configuration once in space.
Upon successful completion of this testing phase, the reflector will be shipped to an ISRO facility in Bengaluru, India. Reintegrating the reflector with the radar system will involve collaborative efforts from NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California and ISRO teams. Once reintegration is complete, ISRO will coordinate with NASA to establish a launch readiness date.
However, scheduling constraints exist as the NISAR launch cannot occur between early October 2024 and early February 2025. This is due to potential temperature fluctuations caused by alternating sunlight and shadows, which could interfere with the satellite’s boom and radar antenna reflector deployments.
This development marks a critical milestone for the NASA-ISRO partnership, promising to enhance our ability to monitor Earth’s dynamic ecosystems and contribute valuable data for scientific research.
Related Links:
NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar
Space Technology News – Applications and Research
Original Story https://www.spacedaily.com/reports/NASA_nearing_completion_of_NISAR_antenna_reflector_work_999.html
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