Jason-2 ocean altimetry satellite was successfully launched by NASA from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California on a Delta II launcher. Separation from the launcher and injection of the satellite into orbit occurred 55 minutes after launch, followed by the deployment of the solar array using a pre-defined on-board command sequence. Control of the satellite was then taken over by the Centre National d'Etudes Spatiales (CNES), the French space agency, which over the next three days will perform Early Orbit Phase operations such as configuration of the payload. The final orbit of the satellite will be 1,336 km above the Earth at a 66º inclination.

Jason-2’s Ocean Surface Topography Mission will provide a vital contribution to the monitoring of climate change, ocean circulation and weather. After it has been calibrated by the partners, the satellite will provide oceanographic products on an operational basis to the large EUMETSAT user community using the European weather satellite organisation’s proven dissemination capabilities. The main instrument onboard Jason-2 will be the Poseidon 3 dual frequency altimeter.

Welcoming the news of the successful launch, Dr. Lars Prahm, Director-General of EUMETSAT, said it “ensures the much-needed data continuity which is vital when measuring the sea level trend, one of the key indicators of climate change. Of equal importance is the contribution Jason-2 will provide for meteorology and oceanography, in the area of long-term and seasonal predictions.”

For EUMETSAT, the launch represents a crucial step forward in its ongoing commitment to develop new areas in Earth observation for meteorological missions: for ocean, land and biosphere monitoring. EUMETSAT intends to provide such services – based on its experience and expertise in the provision of an operational meteorological satellite service – as part of the European Global Monitoring for Environment and Security initiative (GMES).

Jason-2 is the continuation of the existing successful cooperation between the United States and Europe. It is a global endeavour with responsibilities for satellite development and launch shared between CNES and the US National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). CNES and the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) are responsible for satellite operations, while the Jet Propulsion Laboratory is managing the mission for NASA. Data processing will be carried out by CNES, EUMETSAT and NOAA, depending on the type of product, with EUMETSAT acting as an interface for near-real-time product distribution to European users.