NISAR will provide scientists with valuable data as it monitors ice-sheet changes, sea-level rises, ecosystems shifts and more. According to NASA, the satellite will scan forests and wetlands and study both human-driven and natural changes to these environments.

A powerful new radar satellite, jointly developed by the United States and India, is set to launch today. The satellite is designed to monitor subtle shifts in Earth’s land and ice surfaces, aiding in the prediction of both natural disasters and human-induced hazards.