Launch details
GSLV Mk II | NISAR (NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar)
Launch details
GSLV Mk II | NISAR (NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar)
Indian Space Research Organization
Government • IND
Satish Dhawan Space Centre Second Launch Pad
Satish Dhawan Space Centre
Mar 31 at 05:30am
Launchpad time•+0530
Mar 31 at 12:00am
Your local time•+0000
GSLV Mk. II
Launch vehicle
NISAR (NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar)
Mission
Get notification
24 hours before launch
Get notification
1 hour before launch
Note: For all launches the scheduled launch dates and times are subject to change due to weather, equipment, crew and other factors.
Mission description
The NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar, or NISAR satellite, will use advanced radar imaging to map the elevation of Earth's land and ice masses 4 to 6 times a month at resolutions of 5 to 10 meters. It is designed to observe and measure some of the planet's most complex natural processes, including ecosystem disturbances, ice-sheet collapse, and natural hazards such as earthquakes, tsunamis, volcanoes and landslides.
Under the terms of the agreement, NASA will provide the mission's L band synthetic aperture radar (SAR), a high-rate telecommunication subsystem for scientific data, GPS receivers, a solid-state recorder, and a payload data subsystem. ISRO will provide the satellite bus, an S band synthetic aperture radar, the launch vehicle, and associated launch services.
— NISAR (NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar)
Livestream
Attending a launch in person
The on-site launch view gallery is accessible by applying for a pass on the ISRO website. Booking is free and is allocated on a first-come-first-served basis. The booking website is only online during the registration window.
On launch day you won't be allowed on Sriharikota without a valid pass.
Launch View Gallery: 7 kilometers away, capacity of 5000. It has tiered seating like a sports stadium. Has a jumbotron. Right next to the space museum. Not covered so for daytime launches it gets crazy hot and you'll need an umbrella.
For those without a pass there is a good view of the launch from Venadu Road near Pullicat Lake. In summer the lakebed dries up and you can walk onto it for a slightly better view.
Venadu Road: 12 kilometers away. Near the first security checkpoint at Attakanitippa.
How to get there
The closest commercial airport is Chennai International Airport in Chennai.
A 3-hour drive from the airport in a rental car will get you to Satish Dhawan Space Centre.
Alternatively a bus can be taken from the airport to Sullurpeta, and from there a taxi or other local transport option can take you 1 hour to the center.
Accomodation
Nearby hotels in Sullurpeta or a bit further in Chennai.
Nearby parking
Parking available on-site.
Agency details
Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is India's national space agency, known for its cost-effective and successful missions. ISRO's achievements include the Mars Orbiter Mission (Mangalyaan), Chandrayaan lunar missions, and a robust satellite launch program with the PSLV and GSLV rockets, contributing to space exploration and satellite communication.