New Delhi, March 23 : Union Minister of State Dr Jitendra Singh Thursday updated Rajya Sabha about the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) Space collaboration with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and informed that both organizations have jointly manufactured an Earth Science satellite named, NISAR (NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar).
In reply to a question, Dr Jitendra Singh stated that the mission objectives of the satellite are- Design, Develop and launch Dual Frequency (L and S band) Radar Imaging Satellite and to Explore newer applications areas using L & S Band microwave data especially in surface deformation studies, terrestrial biomass structure, natural resource mapping and monitoring and studies related to dynamics of ice-sheets, glaciers, forests, oil slick etc.
The spacecraft will orbit the Earth in a sun synchronous orbit of 747 Km with an inclination of 98.4 degree for a 12-day repeat cycle.
Dr Singh said while NASA is delivering the L-Band SAR payload, high precision GPS and 12m unfurlable antenna, ISRO is delivering S-band SAR payload, spacecraft bus and facilitating launch.
In reply to another question in the same House, Dr Jitendra Singh stated that the Government of India has taken several steps for building research infrastructure in our academic and research institutions.
Dr. Jitendra Singh said that a significant enabling policy framework has been put in place for promoting research in the country.
He said that the Department of Biotechnology (DBT) has implemented a competitive Research Grant system to inculcate the competitive research environment through supporting the research grants and providing fellowships at various levels such as Graduate, Post Graduate, Doctorate, Post-Doctorate and Faculty in universities.
The Minister mentioned that to promote research excellence in colleges and universities across the country, Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB) formulated the program called TARE- (Teachers Associateship for Research Excellence).
The scheme aims to facilitate the mobility of faculty members working in a regular capacity in state universities/ colleges and in private academic institutions to carry our research work in established public-funded central institutions such as IITs, IISC, IISERs, National Institutions (NITs, CSIR, ICAR, ICMR labs and other central Institutions) and central universities.
