Bangalore, India – In a unique detour to ensure smooth operation, the reflector dish at the heart of the NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR) mission recently completed a roundtrip journey from India to the United States. The 12-meter reflector faced potential issues that required a specialized solution.
The gold-plated mesh reflector, originally provided by NASA, is a crucial element within the NISAR spacecraft, designed to focus radar signals for Earth observation.
However, during recent testing by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), simulations showed the reflector could reach higher-than-anticipated temperatures in space. These temperatures risked causing deployment problems during the mission.
To solve this issue, NASA decided to apply a special coating designed to reflect solar radiation, ensuring the reflector's temperatures remain within safe limits.
A NASA C-130 cargo aircraft transported the reflector back from Bangalore to a specialized facility at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in California. Upon completion of the coating process, the reflector will be returned to India for integration into the NISAR spacecraft.
This unexpected development showcases the commitment of both NASA and ISRO to address any potential challenges in this collaborative project. The step ensures the reflector's vital role in collecting essential Earth observation data for the NISAR mission.
