New Delhi:
The NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR) is systematically imaging the Indian landmass in the S and L bands to provide high-resolution, wide-area data with a 12-day repeat cycle, the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) said on Saturday. ISRO stated that these data have been effectively used to demonstrate the generation of soil moisture products with high resolution up to 100 metres.
High-resolution soil moisture data for agriculture and water management purposes
Describing soil moisture as a key indicator of crop health, irrigation needs and drought risk, the organization said it plays a vital role in India’s agriculture and water management systems.
According to an ISRO statement, the soil moisture products, shown using S- and L-band data, provide consistent estimates across India’s diverse agro-climatic zones, including irrigated plains, rain-fed croplands, semi-arid regions and high-rainfall regions.
The physics-based soil moisture retrieval algorithm, developed at the Space Applications Center (SAC-ISRO), ensures scientific robustness, reliability and operational accuracy.
With two observations every 12 days, NISAR enables tracking of soil moisture dynamics in near real-time, ISRO added. This frequent monitoring supports irrigation planning, drought preparedness, agrometeorological guidance, and regional water resource management at the agricultural district and community levels.
National dissemination through NRSC and Bhoonidhi portal
To support national operations, ISRO said 100 meters of Tier 4 operational soil moisture products, produced twice every 12 days, will be systematically produced at the National Remote Sensing Center (IMGEOS/NRSC).
These products will be disseminated through the Bhunidhi portal, ensuring seamless access to farmers, planners, researchers, government agencies and non-government entities across the country.
NSIL-GalaxEye partnership to resell satellite data
NewSpace India Limited (NSIL), the commercial arm of the Space Ministry, will resell products from Bengaluru-based private space technology company GalaxEye Space under an agreement signed between the two entities, officials said.
Products include advanced satellite imagery solutions such as SyncFused OptoSAR data products, designed to provide insights across sectors including agriculture, disaster management and natural resource management.
Suyash Singh, Co-Founder and CEO, GalaxEye Space, said the collaboration with NSIL would help bring advanced Earth observation capabilities to a broader set of users while contributing to India’s strategic and development priorities.
The agreement makes GalaxEye the first Indian private satellite operator to formally collaborate with NSIL under a data resale partnership, officials added.
GalaxEye future plans and Drishti mission
GalaxEye specializes in building payloads such as Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR), an advanced imaging radar technology deployed in space where large ground-dish radars cannot be installed. SAR systems use advanced technologies and algorithms to replicate the power and accuracy of large ground-based radars.
The company is set to launch Mission Drishti, a multi-sensory Earth observation satellite, and plans to expand it to a 10-satellite constellation by 2030.
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