26997 - JASON 1

JASON 1 is an American-French (NASA-CNES) oceanographic satellite that was launched by a Delta 2 rocket from Vandenberg AFB 15:07 UT on 2001 December 7. It is intended to supplement and extend the TOPEX/POSEIDON mission results by monitoring the sea-surface level and wave heights. The initial orbital parameters were period 112 min, apogee 1,340 km, perigee 1,328 km, and inclination 66 deg.

The 500-kg, 1.0-kW, triaxially-stabilized spacecraft carries five instruments. There are two radar altimeters: the CNES Poseidon-2 Altimeter at 13.65 GHz and a NASA TOPEX Altimeter at 13.6 and 5.3 GHz, both measuring the sea surface with an accuracy of 4.2 cm. The NASA Jason Microwave Radiometer (JMR) enables water vapor measurement along the altimeter path so as to correct the echo time. The CNES DORIS Doppler tracking antenna receives ground signals for precise determination of the satellite altitude after correction for ionospheric delays. The NASA BlackJack GPS receiver provides accurate location of the satellite. Finally, the NASA laser retroreflector array works with ground stations to track the satellite and calibrate/verify the altimeter measurements.

Alternate Names

EOS-ALT1
EOS-Altimetry

Facts in Brief

Launch Date: 2001-12-07
Launch Vehicle: Delta II
Launch Site: Vandenberg AFB, United States