Texas Instruments (TI) semiconductors are playing a crucial role in the radar imaging and scientific payloads of the NASA-Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) synthetic aperture radar (NISAR) satellite, recently launched into orbit. The mission represents the culmination of a decade-long collaboration between TI and ISRO to enhance the performance of electronic systems for this first-of-its-kind Earth observation project. Equipped with TI’s radiation-hardened and radiation-tolerant devices, NISAR ensures maximum power efficiency, precision, and system reliability in space.
NISAR is recognized as the first Earth observation satellite to employ dual-band synthetic aperture radar (SAR) technology, enabling high-resolution imaging in both day and night, and in all weather conditions. TI’s technology supports this innovation by delivering advanced power management, fast data transfer, and accurate signal sampling and synchronization.
With the ability to image the entire Earth every 12 days, the satellite will provide valuable insights into ecosystems, ice cover, vegetation, sea-level rise, and groundwater changes. The mission’s data is also expected to strengthen real-time monitoring of natural disasters such as earthquakes, tsunamis, volcanoes, and landslides.
“From selecting the right products to ensuring consistent support across development cycles, TI’s expertise helped us meet the complex requirements of this mission,” said Shri Nilesh Desai, Director, Space Applications Centre (SAC), ISRO. “Our partnership, centered on high-performance analog and mixed-signal semiconductors, enabled ISRO to achieve the stringent space-grade standards necessary for operations in low Earth orbit.”
Texas Instruments (TI) played a key role in enhancing the advanced S-band Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) capabilities of the NISAR mission by delivering critical system-level solutions. Among its contributions was a radiation-hardened power management die used in SAC-ISRO’s hybrid power module, which significantly improved size, weight, and efficiency parameters essential for space applications.
In addition, TI provided high-resolution analog-to-digital converters with ultra-fast sampling rates to generate detailed radar imagery, alongside high-performance interface technology that ensures reliable, high-speed communication between mission subsystems. Complementing these solutions were precision clocking technologies that enable accurate time alignment and coherent signal sampling, vital for the mission’s advanced radar performance.
“As the NISAR satellite begins operations, I reflect on the decade-long journey and how we are already preparing for the future,” said Elizabeth Jansen, Sales and Applications Director, TI India. “Our space-grade semiconductor portfolio, built on more than 60 years of innovation, continues to evolve to meet the demands of the next generation of space missions.”
Texas Instruments is a global semiconductor leader in analog and embedded processing solutions across industries such as industrial, automotive, personal electronics, enterprise systems, and communications. The company continues to drive innovation by making electronics more reliable, affordable, and energy-efficient, enabling their integration into devices worldwide.
