TOPEX/Poseidon Launch

Earth’s global sea levels are rising – and are doing so at an accelerating rate.

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

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

After living in coastal Virginia and seeing the effects of climate change firsthand, Ben Hamlington is now researching sea level rise at NASA JPL.

This artist's concept shows Jason-3 over the California coast.

Altimeter Mission Series

For over 20 years NASA has been tracking the global surface topography of the ocean in order to understand the important role it plays in our daily lives. Climate change is causing our Ocean to war...

Sea Surface Height 01/2006-04/2010

Jason-1 on top of the DPAF

This illustration shows the Sentinel-6 Michael Freilich spacecraft in orbit above Earth with its deployable solar panels extended.

Spacecraft processing

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

Experts from NASA, ESA, EUMETSAT, and NOAA discuss the upcoming launch of Sentinel-6 Michael Freilich in a recorded live broadcast

OSTM/Jason-2 Artist's Concept

El Niño/La Niña - (12/1996 - 01/2000)

These photos were taken during the Dual Payload Attach Fitting (DPAF) mating operation with Jason-1. (11/13/01) Photos: Scott Michel

SSH and SST - Indian Ocean

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

Jason-1: LRA instrument

Jason-1 Poster

Inside half of the Delta Clam shell faring

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

OSTM/Jason-2 Artist's Concept

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

High Resolution Jason-1 launch images