Why in news?

• US space agency NASA will train an Indian astronaut for a mission to the International Space Station by the end of 2024.
• This was revealed by the organisation’s administrator Bill Nelson during his Delhi visit.
• He also said another major programme emerging from India-US collaboration would be the NISAR satellite, which is to be launched in the first quarter of 2024.

What’s in today’s article?

• Indian Space Station
• NISAR Satellite
• News Summary

Indian Space Station

• About
  • India's planned space station is called the Bharatiya Antariksha Station.
  • It will be built by India and operated by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).
  • The station is expected to be completed by 2035.
    • Recently, PM Modi called on ISRO scientists to set up an Indian Space Station by 2035 and send an Indian to the moon by 2040.
• Features
• The Indian space station will be smaller than International Space Station (ISS).
• It will have a mass of 20 tonnes (ISS - 450 tonnes and Chinese Tiangong Space Station - 100 tonnes) and will be used for microgravity experiments.
• It will orbit Earth at an altitude of around 400km.
• What needs to be done?
  • Develop new technologies
    • India has shown its prowess in satellite development, but constructing and maintaining a space station requires a completely different set of skills.
    • It involves life support systems, radiation protection, and long-term structural integrity.
    • India will need to significantly upgrade its technological capabilities to meet these demands.
• Increase the budget
• India will have to seek international collaborations and explore private-sector involvement to ensure adequate funding.
• Gain expertise in human spaceflights
  • To build and operate a space station, a well-trained team of astronauts is indispensable.
  • India must invest in human spaceflight programs, astronaut training, and the development of necessary infrastructure for crewed missions.

NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR)

• About
  • NISAR, or NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar, is a joint project between NASA and ISRO.
  • When it is launched, NISAR will be the first radar imaging satellite to use dual frequencies.
  • The mission will survey all of Earth's land and ice-covered surfaces every 12 days. It has a three-year duration.
• Aim
  • The main aim of the NISAR satellite is to observe the most complex natural processes of the planet, including ecosystem disturbances, ice-sheet collapse, as well as earthquakes, volcanoes and landslides.
• Functions
  • NISAR is a Low Earth Orbit (LEO) observatory that will measure Earth's changing ecosystems, dynamic surfaces, and ice masses.
  • It will also gather information related to biomass, natural hazards, sea level rise, and groundwater.
• Working
  • NISAR will use two distinct radar frequencies: L-band and S-band.
  • This will enable it to measure changes on Earth's surface with precision, down to less than a centimeter.

News Summary: NASA to train an Indian astronaut for ISS mission

Key highlights

• NASA will help train an Indian astronaut
  • That astronaut will fly to the International Space Station at the end of 2024.
  • The astronaut would be selected by ISRO.
  • The selection will likely be from among the four persons who have undergone basic space astronaut training in preparation for the Gaganyaan mission.
  • The science objectives for the two-week long mission will be decided by India.
• Joint working group set up
  • Both NASA and ISRO have set up a joint working group to explore collaborating on radiation impact studies, micro meteorite and orbital debris shield studies, space health and medicine aspects.
• Plan to decommission the International Space Station (ISS)
  • NASA plans to decommission the ISS by 2031.
    • The ISS will be removed from its orbit around Earth and plunged into the ocean at a point farthest from human civilization.
  • Commercial replacement facilities are expected to step in before that time, allowing NASA to maintain a constant human presence in low-Earth orbit.