TOPEX/Poseidon Launch

Jason-1 readies for launch in its bay at Vandenberg, AFB (10/31/01)

Jason-1: TRSR instrument

A key ocean observation satellite has been named after Earth scientist Michael Freilich

Earth’s rising seas are some of the most visible signs of our warming planet. Over the last 23 years, NASA satellite missions have observed a steady rise in global sea levels as polar ice sheets me...

Jason-1 Launch Configuration

Launch preparations are progressing! (11/21/01) Photos: Stacy Mitchell of John Hopkins APL/TIMED project

TOPEX/Poseidon launch

TOPEX/Poseidon Instruments

SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket with the Sentinel-6 Michael Freilich satellite is lifted to vertical at Space Launch Complex 4

The joint U.S.-European Sentinel-6 Michael Freilich is the next in a line of Earth-observing satellites that will collect the most accurate data yet on sea level and how it changes over time. With ...

Spacecraft processing

Jason-3 Animation

These photos were taken during the Payload Attach Fitting (PAF) mating operation with Jason-1. (11/14/01) Photos: Scott Michel

The SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, topped with the Sentinel-6 Michael Freilich satellite secured inside its payload fairing, is rolled to Space Launch Complex 4

NASA and its partners announced the renaming of the mission, previously known as Sentinel-6A/Jason-CS.

High Resolution Jason-1 launch images

Jason-3 Launch

The Falcon 9 protective payload fairing containing the Sentinel-6 Michael Freilich satellite

These photos were taken during the Payload Attach Fitting (PAF) mating operation with Jason-1. (11/14/01) Photos: Scott Michel

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket lifts off from Space Launch Complex 4 at Vandenberg Air Force Base carrying the Jason-3 spacecraft. Liftoff was at 10:42 a.m. PST (1:42 p.m. EST).

For NASA JPL engineer Parag Vaze, studying Earth’s rising ocean has been a career three decades in the making.

Launch preparations are progressing! (11/21/01) Photos: Stacy Mitchell of John Hopkins APL/TIMED project

This is an artist's concept of the Sentinel-6 Michael Freilich spacecraft.

OSTM/Jason-2 Artist's Concept

A look at how NASA is dealing with the threat of sea level rise to its coastal infrastructure.