Patna, Bihar – March 7, 2025: Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Patna has achieved a remarkable milestone by becoming an integral part of the NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR) satellite mission program. On March 6, 2025, the installation of the Corner Reflector (CR) for the NISAR mission was successfully carried out at the IIT Patna campus. This significant development was led by the team from the National Center for Geodesy (NCG), IIT Kanpur.
The event was graced by the leadership of IIT Patna, with the initiative being strongly supported by the visionary Director, Prof. T.N. Singh, and the pioneering efforts of Dr. Amit Kumar Verma, Head of the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, along with Dr. Akshar Tripathi, Geomatics Lab In-charge. Their unwavering dedication has led IIT Patna to become the first IIT in the country to host a NISAR CR site outside the NCG, marking a historic achievement for the institute and the nation.
This installation places IIT Patna on the geospatial research map of India, elevating its prominence in the scientific community and opening up immense opportunities for future research and collaboration. It is a moment of pride not only for IIT Patna but also for the region and the state of Bihar, as it reinforces the institution’s growing influence in cutting-edge space science and technology.
The Corner Reflector at IIT Patna will play a crucial role in the calibration and course correction of the NISAR satellite’s Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) sensor. The NISAR satellite, developed through a unique collaboration between NASA and ISRO, is the world’s first SAR sensor capable of operating in both L and S bands. The mission, slated for launch in March 2025, will contribute significantly to Earth observation, climate monitoring, and disaster management.
The event was attended by distinguished members of the IIT Patna community, including Dr. Amit Kumar Verma, Head of the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering; Dr. Akshar Tripathi, Geomatics Lab In-charge; and Mr. Shailendra Kumar Singh, Junior Technical Superintendent of CEE. The event was also supported by students from the Geomatics Research Group: Mr. Prashant Kumar, Mr. Sudhanshu Ranjan, and Mr. Srikant Kumar, whose contributions to the project have been invaluable.
(This Press Release has been published as received)
