Pragya Raghav
Background
India-US space cooperation has evolved from limited technical engagement into a broader strategic partnership. The relationship gained momentum after the 2005 Indo-US civil space framework, followed by the easing of US export controls on Indian space entities during the 2010s. A major step came in 2014, when NASA and ISRO began developing the NISAR mission as a joint project during bilateral discussions.
Cooperation expanded further in 2023, when India joined the Artemis Accords, the US agreed to train an Indian astronaut for a mission to the International Space Station, and both sides announced plans to strengthen human spaceflight cooperation (Deccan Herald, 2023). In February 2025, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Donald Trump described civil space as an important area for deeper bilateral cooperation, reflecting the growing strategic importance of space in India-US ties.
Earth observation has become a key part of this partnership. Climate change, extreme weather and natural disasters have increased the need for reliable satellite data that can monitor the Earth during both day and night and through cloud cover. Such data can support disaster management, agriculture, water management, glacier monitoring and environmental planning (ISRO, 2025).
NISAR, the NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar, is the most significant outcome of this cooperation so far. Launched on July 30, 2025, aboard ISRO’s GSLV-F16 from Sriharikota, it became the first satellite jointly developed by NASA and ISRO. ISRO contributed the S-band radar, spacecraft bus and launch vehicle, while NASA provided the L-band radar and the 12-metre deployable antenna (ISRO, 2025; Greater Kashmir, 2025). The mission is valued at around $1.5 billion, and its data is being made freely available for scientific research and disaster response (The Week, 2025; Gulf News, 2025).
Beyond its scientific role, NISAR has strengthened the civil space dimension of India-US relations. Its successful development has created a foundation for further cooperation in Earth observation, human spaceflight and lunar exploration, while demonstrating the practical value of long-term collaboration between the two countries.
Functioning
NISAR works through a clear division of responsibilities between ISRO and NASA. ISRO provided the S-band radar, satellite bus and GSLV-F16 launch vehicle and manages satellite operations and S-band data processing. NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) supplied the L-band radar, 12-metre deployable antenna, GPS receivers and communication systems and manages science planning and L-band data processing (ISRO, 2025; Greater Kashmir, 2025).
FIGURE 1:
SOURCE: NISAR – NASA ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar Mission
The mission’s main strength is its dual-frequency radar, combining NASA’s L-band and ISRO’s S-band systems on a single satellite. It uses SweepSAR technology, a radar imaging method that allows the satellite to cover a much wider area without significantly reducing image quality. This enables NISAR to scan a 242-km-wide area at high resolution. Unlike optical satellites, radar can operate through clouds and darkness, allowing observation in most weather conditions (ISRO, 2025; Deccan Herald, 2025).
A key feature is its open data policy. NISAR data is being made freely available to researchers and institutions worldwide, with faster access during emergencies. This makes the mission useful for disaster management, climate research and public policy, rather than limiting its benefits to NASA and ISRO (The Week, 2025).
NISAR therefore demonstrates practical interdependence between India and the US. ISRO’s launch and satellite expertise and NASA’s radar and scientific capabilities come together in a single operational mission, turning bilateral cooperation into a functioning scientific partnership.
Performance
NISAR has so far delivered a largely successful commissioning phase. Launched on July 30, 2025, the satellite completed deployment of its 12-metre radar antenna by August 15, followed by calibration and test imaging from August 19 (ISRO, 2025). It reached its 747-km sun-synchronous orbit in September 2025, marking the first GSLV mission to place a payload in this type of orbit (Mongabay-India, 2025).
The first radar images were released in October 2025, including imagery from Maine and North Dakota, demonstrating the quality of the system before full science operations began (Earth.com/NASA, 2025). ISRO formally began the Science Phase in November 2025 after completing the main calibration process (ISRO, 2025).
The mission is designed to scan almost the entire Earth every 12 days during its planned five-year life. Its data is expected to support glacier and forest monitoring, agricultural assessment, landslide and coastal-erosion mapping, and disaster management in India and elsewhere (ISRO, 2025; Mongabay-India, 2025).
So far, NISAR’s main achievement is operational: the satellite has been deployed, calibrated and has begun producing usable radar imagery. Its larger impact on agriculture, disaster management and climate monitoring will depend on how effectively government agencies and researchers turn this data into practical decisions.
Impact
a. Climate and environmental monitoring
NISAR will provide regular radar coverage of Earth’s land and ice surfaces, helping track glacier movement, land deformation, forest loss and changes in biomass (ISRO, 2025). Its ability to work through clouds and darkness is particularly useful for monitoring the Himalayan region and other areas affected by heavy monsoon cloud cover (Mongabay-India, 2025; ISRO, 2025). These observations can strengthen climate research and environmental planning.
b. Disaster management
The satellite can detect very small changes in the Earth’s surface, making its data useful for monitoring landslides, earthquakes, volcanic activity and land subsidence (Gulf News, 2025). Free and timely access to NISAR data can also support disaster-response agencies during emergencies (The Week, 2025). This could improve both preparedness and response, particularly in hazard-prone regions.
c. Agriculture and resource management
NISAR can monitor soil moisture, vegetation, forests, water resources and crop conditions (ISRO, 2025). These capabilities could help India improve crop assessment, irrigation planning and water management. The India-US Civil Space Joint Working Group has identified monitoring agriculture, forests and water resources as important applications of the mission.
d. India-US strategic cooperation
NISAR has also become an important symbol of the growing India-US technology partnership. The 2023 and 2025 Joint Leaders’ Statements highlighted the mission alongside cooperation in human spaceflight, the Artemis Accords and commercial space activities (White House, 2023; space.commerce.gov, 2025). Its successful development shows that the two countries can jointly build and operate complex space technology, creating a foundation for deeper cooperation in lunar exploration, space security and commercial space activities .
NISAR’s importance goes beyond its scientific capabilities. It provides a practical example of India and the US sharing technology, expertise and responsibilities on a high-value project. Its next challenge is to turn this successful partnership into measurable gains in climate monitoring, disaster management and resource planning.
Emerging Issues
Data access and utilisation. NISAR is expected to generate around 85 terabytes of data each day, creating major demands on processing, storage and distribution systems (NASA/Earthdata, 2024). For India, the challenge is not simply receiving this data but turning it into timely, usable information. This will require trained analysts, adequate computing capacity and stronger links with state and national agencies.
Technology and capability gaps. The mission’s development showed how complex advanced radar technology can be. Problems with the 12-metre reflector contributed to the delay of the launch from 2024 to July 2025 (SpaceNews, 2024). The Department of Space has also acknowledged challenges in international projects, including differing national priorities, geopolitical considerations and resource availability (Rajya Sabha, Department of Space, 2024). Building similar capabilities independently after NISAR remains an important test for India.
Coordination and continuity. NISAR’s benefits will depend on how effectively its data reaches agencies responsible for disasters, agriculture and water management. Although data is expected to be available within one to two days and more quickly during emergencies, a fully documented system connecting NISAR observations with disaster-response authorities is still developing (The Week, 2025). The mission also has a five-year design life, making follow-on missions and sustained funding important if its benefits are to continue (The Week, 2025).
Strategic sensitivity. NISAR’s high-resolution radar has both civilian and security applications. The same technology that monitors glaciers, crops and disasters can also provide information about military infrastructure. As India-US cooperation expands into areas such as Artemis, space situational awareness and defence-space cooperation, both countries will need to balance scientific openness with national-security concerns (US Bureau of Industry and Security, 2018 onward).
Analytical read: NISAR has demonstrated that India and the US can jointly develop advanced space technology. The bigger challenge now is making sure India has the institutions, skills and systems needed to turn its data into regular public-sector use. That will determine whether NISAR becomes a lasting capability or remains primarily a successful technology demonstration.
Way Forward
India’s immediate priority should be to build the capacity to use NISAR data effectively. This means training more scientists and analysts and creating stronger links between ISRO, research institutions and government agencies. NISAR’s value will ultimately depend on how quickly its data can be converted into useful information for decision makers (The Week, 2025). Its open data should also be used to support developing countries in areas such as disaster management, agriculture and climate monitoring (The Week, 2025).
NISAR data should be integrated more closely into India’s disaster and resource-management systems. A formal mechanism connecting ISRO with disaster-response agencies could help translate satellite observations into faster risk assessments for landslides, earthquakes and land subsidence (Gulf News, 2025). Similar partnerships with agriculture and water authorities could turn NISAR’s capabilities in crop, soil, forest, glacier and water monitoring into regular inputs for planning and policy (ISRO, 2015).
Finally, India and the US should use NISAR as a foundation for sustained cooperation rather than treating it as a one-time project. NASA has described NISAR as a pathfinder for wider Earth-system research (NASA, 2022), while the 2025 Joint Leaders’ Statement supports deeper cooperation in human spaceflight, space safety and commercial space activities (space.commerce.gov, 2025). A long-term roadmap covering Earth observation, climate science and future joint missions would help maintain the momentum created by NISAR.
References
Deccan Herald. (2023, June 23). PM Modi says India joining Artemis Accords a “big leap forward” in the space sector. https://www.deccanherald.com/india/pm-modi-says-india-joining-artemis-accords-a-big-leap-forward-in-space-sector-1230466.html
Deccan Herald. (2025, July 27). Earth observation NISAR satellite will be launched on July 30, says ISRO chairman. https://www.deccanherald.com/india/earth-observation-nisar-satellite-will-be-launched-on-july-30-says-isro-chairman-3651571
Department of Space, Government of India. (2024, December 5). Unstarred Question No. 266: Joint project between NASA and ISRO [Rajya Sabha reply]. https://rsdebate.nic.in/bitstream/123456789/754671/1/PQ_266_05122024_S115_p62_p64.pdf
Daily Excelsior. (2022). NISAR mission to provide new insights into Earth’s changing environment. Daily Excelsior.
Daily Excelsior. (2023). India-US Civil Space Joint Working Group discusses cooperation in Earth observation and space science. Daily Excelsior.
Earthdata, NASA. (2019). Getting ready for NISAR and for managing big data using the commercial cloud. https://earthdata.nasa.gov/news/feature-articles/getting-ready-nisar-managing-big-data-using-commercial-cloud
EARSC/ISRO. (2015). NISAR mission and its applications for Earth observation. European Association of Remote Sensing Companies and Indian Space Research Organisation.
Greater Kashmir. (2025). India-US space cooperation enters a new phase with NISAR mission. Greater Kashmir.
Gulf News. (2025, July 30). India, US mark historic milestone with successful launch of NISAR satellite. https://gulfnews.com/world/asia/india/india-us-mark-historic-milestone-with-successful-launch-of-nisar-satellite-1.500217138
Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). (2025). NISAR: NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar mission. https://www.isro.gov.in/Mission_GSLVF16_NISAR_Home.html
Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). (2025, November 28). NISAR Mission enters Science Phase. https://www.isro.gov.in/NISAR_Mission_Science_Phase.html
Mongabay-India. (2025, November). ISRO-NASA radar to offer a closer look at Earth’s changing landscapes. https://india.mongabay.com/2025/11/isro-nasa-radar-to-offer-a-closer-look-at-earths-changing-landscapes
NASA/Earth.com. (2025, October 10). NISAR: NASA and India unveil the first images from the most powerful radar satellite ever built. https://www.earth.com/news/nasa-india-nisar-most-powerful-radar-satellite-ever-built-sends-stunning-first-images/
Newsonair.gov.in (All India Radio/Prasar Bharati). (2025, July 30). India-US maiden space collaboration NISAR placed in precise orbit. https://www.newsonair.gov.in
Outlook Business. (2025). India-US NISAR mission marks a new phase in space cooperation. Outlook Business.
space.commerce.gov (U.S. Department of Commerce, Office of Space Commerce). (2023, June 22). Joint statement from the United States and India. https://space.commerce.gov/?p=5596
space.commerce.gov (U.S. Department of Commerce, Office of Space Commerce). (2025, February). U.S.-India joint statement highlights space cooperation. https://space.commerce.gov/?p=9265
SpaceNews. (2024, March 24). Antenna work delays NISAR launch. https://spacenews.com/?p=359669
The Week. (2025, July 27). NISAR India’s “scientific handshake” with the world: Jitendra Singh. https://www.theweek.in/wire-updates/national/2025/07/27/del54-space-nisar-jitendra.html
The Week. (2025, July 30). Indo-US space collaboration takes flight with NISAR sat success. https://www.theweek.in/wire-updates/national/2025/07/30/mds22-isro-2nd-ld-nisar.html
US Bureau of Industry and Security. (2018 onward). Export controls and regulations concerning space-related technologies. U.S. Department of Commerce.
White House. (2023, June 22). Joint statement from the United States and India. The White House. https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2023/06/22/joint-statement-from-the-united-states-and-india/
About the Contributor
Pragya Raghav is pursuing a B.A. (Hons.) in History at Mata Sundri College for Women, University of Delhi, with a minor in Political Science. She is passionate about public policy, international relations, governance, climate policy, and sustainable development. Through research and policy analysis, she aims to contribute to evidence-based policymaking and create meaningful social impact.
Acknowledgement
I sincerely thank IMPRI for giving me the opportunity to undertake this policy research on the NISAR Satellite (2025), India-US space cooperation, and the ISRO-NASA partnership. I am grateful to Arjun Sir and the entire IMPRI team for their guidance and valuable feedback. I also thank my fellow interns and peers for their support and insightful discussions, which made this experience meaningful and enriching.
Disclaimer : The views and opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views, policies, or positions of IMPRI (Impact and Policy Research Institute) or any other affiliated organisation.
Name of the reviewer: Karnavi Shende and Tanisha
Read more at IMPRI :
Narco-Terrorism: From the Golden Crescent and Golden Triangle to Manipur and the Bengal Frontier
