Thiruvananthapuram: The successful launch of the NISAR satellite is more than just a technical feat—it reflects India’s growing sophistication in space technology and its deepening partnership with the United States.
Speaking to reporters on Thursday night, ISRO Chairman V Narayanan described the launch as “one of the most precise in the world.” The joint NASA-ISRO mission lifted off from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota aboard India’s indigenously built GSLV Mark vehicle—a moment that drew admiration from NASA officials.
“They were so excited to see that Indians could successfully launch using the GSLV Mark vehicle,” Narayanan said. “It is an unimaginable achievement even for them.”
NISAR, which will orbit Earth 14 times a day, is designed to map almost every stretch of land and ice twice within 12 days. Its data will have wide applications—from tracking changes in ecosystems to monitoring climate-related shifts in polar ice.
Narayanan called the mission a “remarkable example” of precision engineering, noting that the five-stage rocket placed the satellite in orbit with an error margin of just two to three kilometres.
“The entire country can be proud that a technologically advanced satellite, built jointly by India and America, is now in orbit using an Indian launcher,” he added.
In many ways, this launch is emblematic of India’s larger trajectory: an emerging power whose technological and scientific capabilities are increasingly recognized—and celebrated—on the global stage.
