The super Earth observation satellite jointly developed by the United States and India is about to be launched
A super Earth observation satellite jointly developed by the United States and India was launched from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre on the southeastern coast of India on July 30. It will become a powerful tool for scientists to detect any changes in the Earth's surface and predict natural disasters. This joint development project is seen as an important stage in the cooperation between the United States and India in the field of space technology.
The observation satellite, named NISAR, is the size of a small truck and is equipped with a 12-meter satellite antenna. According to information released on the NASA website, the mission of this observation satellite is to take images of the Earth's surface and glaciers from an altitude of 747 kilometers, at a frequency of twice every 12 days, to observe continuous and significant changes on the Earth's surface.
According to information published by NASA, the satellite has the capability to observe minute changes on the surface as small as centimeters. Karen St Germain, head of NASA's Earth Science Programs, told AFP that scientists will thus be able to detect early signals of natural or human-made disasters such as earthquakes, landslides, volcanic eruptions, and even the deterioration of infrastructure such as dams and bridges. Karen St Germain called it the most advanced radar ever developed by the United States.
This advanced observation satellite is the result of cooperation between NASA and the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). NASA invested 1.2 billion dollars, while the Indian Space Research Organisation spent approximately 9 billion dollars. This is undoubtedly an important phase in the cooperation between the United States and India in the field of space. The United States has long been at the forefront of space R&D, and India has also made significant progress in recent years. In 2014, India successfully launched an orbiter to Mars; in 2023, it successfully launched a robot to the Moon and is expected to launch its first manned spacecraft independently in 2027.
The launch of NISAR is of great significance for observing changes on the Earth's surface and predicting large-scale disasters. However, its military and strategic functions are self-evident. It can observe changes on the surface as small as centimeters, which naturally makes it easy to observe the deployment of ground military personnel and the construction and movements of military facilities. In the context of major changes in the international geopolitical landscape, the cooperation between the two countries, the United States and India, in the field of space technology therefore carries strategic significance.
Source: rfi
Original: https://www.toutiao.com/article/1839087250472979/
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