India-US $1.3 Billion NISAR Satellite Successfully Unfurls Largest Radar Antenna Reflector Ever Deployed By NASA

In a major milestone for global Earth science, the NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR) satellite has successfully deployed its massive radar antenna in orbit, setting the stage for full-scale science operations.

Launched on 30 July, aboard India’s GSLV-F16 rocket from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre, the $1.3 billion, 2.8-ton satellite represents the most expensive Earth observation mission ever, reported NDTV.

Seventeen days after launch, on 15 August, NISAR’s 12-meter radar antenna reflector unfurled in space.

The gold-plated wire mesh reflector, supported by a 9-meter boom, is the largest ever deployed for a NASA mission in low Earth orbit.

The antenna directs microwave pulses from NASA’s L-band and ISRO’s S-band radars to Earth, capturing high-resolution images even through clouds, vegetation, and rain.

“The successful deployment of NISAR's reflector marks a significant milestone in the capabilities of the satellite,” said Karen St Germain, NASA’s Earth Science Division Director.

Nicky Fox, NASA’s Science Mission Chief, added, “This is a first-of-its-kind, jewel radar satellite that will change the way we study our home planet and better predict a natural disaster before it strikes.”

The satellite will revisit Earth’s land and ice surfaces every 12 days, enabling 3D time-lapse maps to track earthquakes, landslides, glacier movements, and forest degradation. NASA’s Deputy Associate Administrator Casey Swails said, “It really shows the world what our two nations can do.”

By October 2025, NISAR will begin delivering critical data to support disaster preparedness, climate monitoring, and global food security—making it a true life-saving mission powered by India-US collaboration.

Also Read: India Set To Launch World’s Most Expensive Earth Observation Satellite 'NISAR' Today—All About It