Us-india Satellite Uncovers 'Hummingbird' Data in Antarctica

WHO:

NASA - The organization involved in the satellite project.

ISRO - The Indian Space Research Organisation, collaborating with NASA on the satellite.

WHAT:

NASA - Data from the NISAR satellite’s L-band radar produced an image of Nunatak Zaterjavshijsja, a mountaintop in East Antarctica.

NASA - The image shows the mountaintop poking out amid a stream of ice flowing northeast to the ocean, causing stresses in the ice and heavily fracturing the surrounding surfaces.

NASA - The NISAR (NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar) satellite has two powerful radar instruments.

Phys.org - The satellite's data will help track the movement of Earth's land and ice masses, monitor changes in ecosystems, and respond to natural hazards.

WHERE:

NASA - The specific location of the mountaintop is East Antarctica.

NASA - Antarctica is the location where the 'hummingbird' data was revealed.

WHEN:

NASA - As of July 20, the public can access data from the satellite.

HOW:

Phys.org - The data is processed from the satellite’s L-band and S-band radars and will be released on an ongoing basis.

(UPDATED July 22, 2026 02:51 UTC)

NASA has released a striking image captured by the NISAR satellite, showcasing Nunatak Zaterjavshijsja, a mountaintop located in East Antarctica. The image reveals the mountaintop emerging from a stream of ice that flows northeast toward the ocean, which is causing significant stresses in the ice and resulting in heavy fracturing of the surrounding surfaces. This data highlights the dynamic and changing landscape of this remote region.

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(UPDATED July 21, 2026 22:22 UTC)

NASA and the Indian Space Research Organisation, or ISRO, are collaborating on the NISAR satellite, which features two powerful radar instruments designed to track the movement of Earth's land and ice masses. The satellite's data, which became publicly accessible as of July 20, will help monitor changes in ecosystems and respond to natural hazards, with initial findings revealed from Antarctica. This data is processed from the satellite’s L-band and S-band radars and will be released on an ongoing basis.