Jason3satelliitin

Jason-3 is an Earth observation satellite designed to monitor sea surface height for oceanography, climate research, and weather forecasting. It is the continuation of the Jason series, following TOPEX/Poseidon, Jason-1, and Jason-2, and provides the long, consistent time series of altimetry data needed to track ocean currents, tides, and sea level rise.

The mission is led by CNES, the French space agency, with international collaboration from NASA, EUMETSAT, and NOAA. Jason-3 builds on the heritage of its predecessors by carrying a radar altimeter to measure the distance between the satellite and the ocean surface, along with instruments for precise orbit determination and atmospheric correction. Key payloads include a Poseidon radar altimeter, a DORIS (Doppler Orbitography and Radiopositioning Integrated by Satellite) tracking system, a GPS receiver, and a laser retroreflector for laser ranging. An onboard microwave radiometer helps correct atmospheric delays that affect radar measurements.

Jason-3 was launched on January 17, 2016, aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg Air Force Base, California. It operates in a near-polar, sun-synchronous orbit at roughly 1,336 kilometers altitude with about a 112-minute orbital period. The data produced support oceanography, climate monitoring, tide modeling, and numerical weather prediction, ensuring continuity with the Jason-2 record.

As of the mid-2020s, Jason-3 continues to provide high-precision sea surface height measurements, contributing to a sustained, global data record used by researchers and operational agencies worldwide.