Jason 1

Jason 1 [CNES]

Jason-1 is the first follow-on to the highly successful TOPEX/Poseidon mission that measured ocean surface topography to an accuracy of 4.2 cm, enabled scientists to forecast the 1997-1998 El Niño, and improved understanding of ocean circulation and its effect of global climate. The joint NASA-CNES program will launch a French spacecraft on an American Delta-7920-10C from Vandenberg AFB. Like TOPEX/Poseidon, the payload will include both American and French instruments. Jason-1 altimeter data will be part of a suite of data provided by other JPL-managed ocean missions - the GRACE mission will use two satellites to accurately measure Earth's mass distribution, and the QuikSCAT scatterometer mission will measure ocean-surface winds.

Jason 1 features following instruments:

• JMR: Microwave radiometer
• TRSR: GPS tracking receiver
• LRA: Laser retroreflector array
• Poseidon-2: A solid state radar altimeter
• DORIS: Doppler tracking system receiver

Jason 1 was retired in July 2013 after 11.5 years in orbit, surpassing its 3 years design life. Its mission was continued by the Jason 2 and 3 satellites.