Jason-1 was the first follow-on to the highly successful TOPEX/Poseidon mission. This second joint NASA-CNES mission was built on a French spacecraft, and launched on an American Delta II rocket from Vandenburg Air Force Base in California. Like TOPEX/Poseidon, the payload included both American and French instruments. Jason-1 altimeter data is part of a suite of data provided by other JPL-managed ocean missions. The GRACE mission uses two satellites to accurately measure Earth's gravity field (mass distribution), and the QuikSCAT scatterometer mission provided almost 11 years of ocean-surface winds.
Where is it now?
Where is it now? Find out where
Jason-1 is right now. To find out the best times to view it in your area, follow the directions on the
Missions page.
Mission Objectives
- Extend ocean surface topography into the 21st century
- Provide a 5-year view of global ocean surface topography
- Increase understanding of ocean circulation
- Improve forecasting of climate events
Mission Highlights
