JPL
Careers
Education
Science & Technology
JPL Logo
JPL Logo

Jason-3

Jason-3

Extending the timeline of ocean surface topography measurements begun by the Topex/Poseidon and Jason-1 and-2 satellites, Jason-3 will make highly detailed measurements of sea-level on Earth to gain insight into ocean circulation and climate change.

Visit Mission Website
Jason-3 Foreground

Mission Statistics

Time in Orbit

Loading…
Yrs
 : 
Mos
 : 
Days
 : 
Hrs
 : 
Mins
 : 
Secs

Launch Date

Jan 17, 2016

Type

Orbiter

Target

Earth

Status

Current

About the mission

Extending the timeline of ocean surface topography measurements begun by the Topex/Poseidon and Jason-1 and-2 satellites, Jason-3 will make highly detailed measurements of sea-level on Earth to gain insight into ocean circulation and climate change.

The satellite successfully launched on January 17, 2016, and like its predecessors (Jason-1 and -2, and Topex/Poseidon), is a cooperative of agencies and organizations around the world.

Instruments

  • Altimeter
  • Microwave radiometer
  • Doppler Orbitography and Radiopositioning Integrated by Satellite (DORIS)
  • Laser Retroreflector Array (LRA)
  • Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver

Mission Highlights

Jan 17, 2016

Launch

Jason-3 launched successfully on January 17, 2016, from Vandenberg Air Force Base, California
Target: Earth
Jason-3

Interactive 3D model of Jason-3. View the full interactive experience at Eyes on the Solar System.

Mission Website
NASA Global Climate Change Website
NASA's Eyes on the Earth 3-D Interactive
Topex/Poseidon Mission Summary
Topex/Poseidon Mission Website
Jason 1 Mission Summary
Jason 1 Mission Website

Explore Other Missions

Shuttle Radar Topography Mission

Uninhabited Aerial Vehicle Synthetic Aperture Radar

Viking 1

Radar in a CubeSat

Mission to Saturn

Inertial Stellar Compass

Wide Field and Planetary Camera 2

Ranger 3

Explorer 2

Hayabusa

About JPL
Who We Are
Executive Council
Directors of JPL
JPL History
Documentary Series
Virtual Tour
Annual Reports
Missions
All
Current
Past
Future
News
All
Earth
Mars
Solar System
Universe
Technology
Galleries
Images
Videos
Audio
Podcasts
Infographics
Engage
JPL and the Community
Lecture Series
Public Tours
Events
Team Competitions
JPL Speakers Bureau
Topics
Solar System
Mars
Earth
Climate Change
Stars and Galaxies
Exoplanets
Technology
JPL Life
For Media
Contacts and Information
Press Kits
More
Asteroid Watch
Robotics at JPL
Subscribe to Newsletter
Social Media
Get the Latest from JPL
Follow Us

JPL is a federally funded research and development center managed for NASA by Caltech.

More from JPL
Careers Education Science & Technology Acquisitions JPL Store
Careers
Education
Science & Technology
Acquisitions
JPL Store
Related NASA Sites
Basics of Spaceflight
Climate Kids
Earth / Global Climate Change
Exoplanet Exploration
Mars Exploration
Solar System Exploration
Space Place
NASA's Eyes Visualization Project
Voyager Interstellar Mission
NASA
Caltech
Privacy
Image Policy
FAQ
Feedback
Site Manager: Veronica McGregor
Site Editors: Tony Greicius, Randal Jackson, Naomi Hartono