Work on the NISAR (NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar) radar antenna reflector is done, and NASA expects to transport the reflector to India before the end of the year.
The current eclipse season is underway now through February 2025.
During the eclipse season, the periods of alternating sunlight and shadows due to the position of the Sun produce temperature fluctuations on the observatory that could adversely affect deployment of NISAR’s boom and radar antenna reflector. As a result, NISAR will launch in early 2025. NASA and the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) will coordinate to determine an official launch readiness date.