Key facts

NISAR, an Earth observation satellite jointly developed by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO), captured the first radar image of Mount Rainier in Washington, USA. This video is evaluated as an example of how precisely the NISAR satellite's Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) technology can observe volcanic terrain.

Mount Rainier is 4,392 meters above sea level and is classified as one of the most dangerous volcanoes in the continental United States. This is an area where continuous monitoring is essential as the population living nearby reaches several million.

Why this is important

The NISAR satellite is the first satellite to be equipped with radars of both L-band and S-band frequencies simultaneously. This combination of technologies can detect changes in the ground surface down to the millimeter level, and is expected to play a critical role in early detection of ground expansion or subsidence, which are precursors to volcanic activity.

Unlike existing optical satellites, radar images have the advantage of enabling continuous observation regardless of clouds or nighttime conditions. This characteristic is especially important in areas with a lot of clouds year-round, such as the Pacific Northwest.

According to related industry reports, NISAR plans to scan the entire Earth every 12 days and collect various global environmental data such as landslides, earthquakes, glacier movement, and forest changes. This is expected to provide a new observational basis for climate change research and natural disaster prediction.

Meaning of NISAR project

NISAR is the largest international cooperation project between NASA and ISRO. It was developed with a division of labor structure in which NASA is responsible for the L-band radar and communication system, and ISRO is responsible for the S-band radar and satellite body. The total project cost is approximately $1.5 billion (approximately KRW 2 trillion), and is attracting attention as a model for space technology cooperation between the two countries.