Ocean Surface Topography Mission
Artist's interpretation of the Jason-2 satellite
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| Mission type | Earth orbiter |
|---|---|
| Operator | NASA, NOAA, CNES, EUMETSAT |
| COSPAR ID | 2008-032A |
| SATCAT no. | 33105 |
| Website | Ocean Surface Topography from Space |
| Mission duration | Design: 3 years Elapsed: 8 years, 8 months and 8 days |
| Spacecraft properties | |
| Bus | Proteus |
| Manufacturer | Thales Alenia Space |
| Launch mass | 510 kilograms (1,120 lb) |
| Start of mission | |
| Launch date | June 20, 2008, 07:46:25 UTC |
| Rocket | Delta II 7320-10C D334 |
| Launch site | Vandenberg SLC-2W |
| Contractor | ULA |
| Orbital parameters | |
| Reference system | Geocentric |
| Regime | LEO |
| Semi-major axis | 7,715.0 kilometers (4,793.9 mi) |
| Eccentricity | 0.0007611 |
| Perigee | 1,332 kilometers (828 mi) |
| Apogee | 1,343 kilometers (835 mi) |
| Inclination | 66,03° |
| Period | 6754.0 seconds |
| RAAN | 301,7746 degrees |
| Argument of perigee | 273,8057 degrees |
| Mean anomaly | 280,076 degrees |
| Epoch | 09 April 2016 21:16:10 UTC |
The Ocean Surface Topography Mission (OSTM) on the Jason-2 satellite is an international Earth observation satellite mission that continues the sea surface height measurements begun in 1992 by the joint NASA/CNES TOPEX/Poseidon mission and followed by the NASA/CNES Jason-1 mission launched in 2001.
Like its two predecessors, OSTM/Jason-2 uses high-precision ocean altimetry to measure the distance between the satellite and the ocean surface to within a few centimeters. These very accurate observations of variations in sea surface height—also known as ocean topography—provide information about global sea level, the speed and direction of ocean currents, and heat stored in the ocean.
Jason-2 was built by Thales Alenia Space using a Proteus platform, under a contract from CNES, as well as the main Jason-2 instrument, the Poseidon-3 altimeter (successor to the Poseidon and Poseidon 2 altimeter on-board TOPEX/Poseidon and Jason-1)
Scientists consider the 15-plus-year climate data record that this mission will extend critical understanding how ocean circulation is linked to global climate change.
OSTM/Jason-2 was launched at 07:46 UTC on June 20, 2008, from Space Launch Complex 2W at the Vandenberg Air Force Base in California, USA, by a Delta II 7320 rocket. The spacecraft separated from the rocket 55 minutes later.
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