Jason-2 Implementation

CNES and NASA built their third joint spacecraft Jason-2, launched June 20, 2008, to continue the collection of sea-surface elevation measurements, work that began with the Topography Experiment (TOPEX)/Poseidon mission. Launched in August 1992, the TOPEX/Poseidon satellite used a Radar Altimeter, microwave radiometer, precision satellite tracking, and precision orbit determination as part of a worldwide effort to study and describe global ocean dynamics in relation to Earth's environment and climate change. The success of TOPEX/Poseidon led the two agencies to build Jason-1, a satellite that is currently being operated by CNES and NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL). Jason-1 has demonstrated that high accuracy radar altimetry is no longer experimental; the data are fundamental to studies being carried out by NOAA and many other operational entities. Therefore, a decision was made to provide continuity of the ocean surface height dataset by launching the follow-on satellite Jason-2.

The OSTM operations are planned for 5 years, comprising the Routine Operations (3 years) and the Extended Routine Operations Phases (2 years).

NASA provided the launch services for the Jason-2 mission. The CNES Mission Operations Center was the primary control center during Launch and Early Orbit Phase (LEOP) and Checkout. At the beginning of the Initial Routine Operations phase on October 29, 2008 command and control of the satellite was handed off to the NOAA Satellite Operations Control Center (SOCC).