Mission Overview
Ocean Surface Topography Mission/Jason 2
Artist's concept of Ocean Surface Topography Mission/Jason 2. Image credit: JPL-Caltech
The NASA-French space agency Ocean Surface Topography Mission/Jason 2 satellite launched aboard a Delta II rocket from Space Launch Complex 2 at Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif., at 12:46 a.m. PDT. Photo credit: United Launch AllianceLarger View Launch Information:
Launch: June 20, 2008
The Ocean Surface Topography Mission on the Jason-2 satellite (OSTM/Jason-2) is a follow-on to the Jason-1 mission. It launched 20 June 2008 from Vandenburg Air Force Base in California.
The Jason-2 payload includes the next generation of Poseidon altimeter (Poseidon-3, with the same general characteristics than Poseidon-2, but with a lower instrumental noise, an algorithm enabling a better tracking over land and ice, and the Doris location system. The accuracy should be of about 2.5 cm on the altimeter measurements.
Three new instruments (T2L2, LPT, Carmen-2) are moreover onboard, to study radiations in the satellite environment (LPT, Carmen-2), and to measure a laser path delay. Besides their scientific interest, these instruments should allow to enhance data quality and accuracy.
Mission Details:
Purpose: Asteroid orbiter
Fast Facts:
Launch: September 27, 2007
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