Jason-2

Jason-2 is an Earth observation satellite developed by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), Centre National d'Etudes Spatiales (CNES), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and European Organisation for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites (EUMETSAT) to study the Earth's ocean and its role in the Earth's climate system. The mission is a follow-on to the TOPEX/Poseidon and Jason-1 satellites, and it continues the Poseidon and Jason-1 legacy of providing high-accuracy ocean topography measurements. Jason-2 is part of the Ocean Surface Topography Mission (OSTM) and works in conjunction with other satellites like Envisat and Cryosat-2 to provide a comprehensive understanding of the Earth's ocean and its interactions with the atmosphere and land surfaces. The satellite's data is used by organizations such as the National Weather Service (NWS), European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF), and the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).

Introduction

Jason-2 is a satellite that was launched on June 20, 2008, from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California, United States, using a Delta II rocket provided by the United Launch Alliance (ULA). The satellite was designed to continue the TOPEX/Poseidon and Jason-1 missions, which provided critical data on ocean currents, sea level rise, and ocean tides. Jason-2 works in conjunction with other satellites like GRACE and GOCE to provide a comprehensive understanding of the Earth's gravity field and its effects on the ocean and solid Earth. The mission is supported by organizations such as the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), Laboratoire d'Etudes en Géophysique et Océanographie Spatiales (LEGOS), and the Collecte Localisation Satellites (CLS).

Spacecraft Design

The Jason-2 spacecraft was designed and built by Thales Alenia Space (TAS) and is based on the PROTEUS platform, which was also used for the Jason-1 and COROT missions. The satellite is equipped with a Poseidon-3 radar altimeter provided by Alcatel Space (now Thales Alenia Space), a DORIS (Doppler Orbitography and Radiopositioning Integrated by Satellite) system provided by the Centre National d'Etudes Spatiales (CNES), and a LRA (Laser Retroreflector Array) provided by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). The satellite's power is provided by a set of solar panels and batteries supplied by Saft and EADS Astrium (now Airbus Defence and Space). Jason-2 also carries a TRSR (Tandem Repeater Satellite Receiver) provided by the European Space Agency (ESA) and a LPT (Laser Pulse Transmitter) provided by the German Aerospace Center (DLR).

Mission Objectives

The primary objective of the Jason-2 mission is to provide high-accuracy measurements of sea surface height (SSH) and ocean currents to support climate research, weather forecasting, and oceanography. The mission also aims to provide data on sea level rise, ocean tides, and ocean waves to support coastal management and marine navigation. Jason-2 works in conjunction with other satellites like Aquarius and SMOS to provide a comprehensive understanding of the Earth's water cycle and its effects on the ocean and atmosphere. The mission is supported by organizations such as the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), and the European Space Agency (ESA).

Launch and Operation

Jason-2 was launched on June 20, 2008, from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California, United States, using a Delta II rocket provided by the United Launch Alliance (ULA). The satellite was placed into a sun-synchronous orbit at an altitude of approximately 1,336 kilometers (831 miles) and an inclination of 66 degrees. The satellite's orbit is maintained by a set of thrusters provided by EADS Astrium (now Airbus Defence and Space) and a gravity gradient stabilization system provided by the Centre National d'Etudes Spatiales (CNES). Jason-2 is operated by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the European Organisation for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites (EUMETSAT), with support from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and the Centre National d'Etudes Spatiales (CNES).

Scientific Contributions

Jason-2 has made significant contributions to our understanding of the Earth's ocean and its role in the Earth's climate system. The satellite's data has been used to study sea level rise, ocean currents, and ocean tides, and to support climate research, weather forecasting, and oceanography. Jason-2 has also provided critical data on ocean waves and ocean currents to support coastal management and marine navigation. The satellite's data is used by organizations such as the National Weather Service (NWS), the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF), and the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Jason-2 works in conjunction with other satellites like GOES and Meteosat to provide a comprehensive understanding of the Earth's atmosphere and its interactions with the ocean and land surfaces.

Legacy and Decommissioning

Jason-2 was decommissioned on October 1, 2019, after more than 11 years of operation. The satellite's data will continue to be used by scientists and researchers to study the Earth's ocean and its role in the Earth's climate system. The Jason-2 mission has paved the way for future oceanography missions, including the Jason-3 and SWOT missions, which will continue to provide critical data on the Earth's ocean and its interactions with the atmosphere and land surfaces. The legacy of Jason-2 will be continued by the Jason-3 satellite, which was launched on January 17, 2016, and the SWOT satellite, which is scheduled to be launched in 2022. Jason-2 has worked in conjunction with other satellites like Envisat and Cryosat-2 to provide a comprehensive understanding of the Earth's ocean and its interactions with the atmosphere and land surfaces. Category:Earth observation satellites