Jason 3

Launch data: Designation  41240 / 16002A Launch date  17 Jan 2016 - 18:42 UT Launch site  Va, SLC-4E Launch vehicle  Falcon-9 v1.1 (F9-019) Mission  Earth observation, oceanography LEO Earth orbit on Feb 4.88 2016: Perigee / Apogee  1343 x 1355 km Eccentricity  1,50E-03 Inclination  66.04 ° Period  112.61 min

Artist’s concept of the Jason 3 spacecraft in orbit. Credit: NOAA

Spacecraft data: Prime manufacturer  Thales Alenia Space (Cannes) Platform  Proteus bus Operator  NOAA, Eumetsat, NASA, CNES Mass at launch  553 kg Dry Mass  510 kg Basic shape   Dimension (m)   Equipment  Poseidon-3 (#2), Poseidon-B (#3), AMR, DORIS, NavstarP, LRA Solar array   2 deployable solar arrays Stabilization   Propulsion   DC power  500 W Design lifetime  5 yrs

Jason 3 encapsulated inside the rocket's payload fairing. - Photo credit:NASA

Description:

• Jason-3 is the fourth mission in U.S.-European series of satellite missions that measure the height of the ocean surface. Launched on January 17, 2016, the mission will extend the time series of ocean surface topography measurements (the hills and valleys of the ocean surface) begun by the TOPEX/Poseidon satellite mission in 1992 and continuing through the Jason-1 (launched in 2001) and the currently operating OSTM/Jason-2 (launched in 2008) missions. These measurements provide scientists with critical information about circulation patterns in the ocean and about both global and regional changes in sea level and the climate implications of a warming world.
  The primary instrument on Jason-3 is a radar altimeter. The altimeter will measure sea-level variations over the global ocean with very high accuracy (as 1.3 inches or 3.3 centimeters, with a goal of achieving 1 inch or 2.5 centimeters). Continual, long-term, reliable data of changes in ocean surface topography will be generated and will be used by scientists and operational agencies (NOAA, European weather agencies, marine operators, etc.) for scientific research and operational oceanography for the benefit of society.
• Following instruments are onboard:
  • CNES Poseidon-3 Altimeter (C- and Ku-band) measures height above sea surface
  • NASA Advanced Microwave Radiometer (AMR) Three-frequency radiometer measures total water vapor along altimeter path to correct for pulse delay
  • CNES Doppler Orbitography and Radiopositioning Integrated by Satellite (DORIS) Doppler tracking antenna receives ground signals for precise orbit determination, satellite tracking, and ionospheric correction data for CNES altimeter
  • NASA Global Positioning System Payload (NavstarP) receiver provides precise orbit ephemeris data
  • NASA Laser Retroreflector Array (LRA) works with ground stations to track satellite and calibrate the other satellite location systems, and verify altimeter measurements.
• TOPEX/Poseidon and Jason-1 were cooperative missions between NASA and the French space agency, CNES. Additional partners in the Jason-2 mission included NOAA and Eumetsat. Jason-3 continues the international cooperation, with NOAA and Eumetsat leading the efforts, along with partners NASA and CNES.
• The 550 kg satellite is built by Thales Alenia (Cannes) using the Proteus bus and owned by the French space agency CNES. Lead agencies for the overall Jason-3 program are the US weather agency NOAA and the European weather satellite group EUMETSAT, taking over from CNES and JPL who led the earlier missions.

External links:

• Satellite tracking: Real time satellite tracking