Topex / Poseidon
An Earth satellite designed to measure ocean surface topography with unprecedented accuracy, Topex/Poseidon spent 13-plus years in orbit improving understanding of ocean circulation and its impact on global climate.
Launch Date
Aug. 10, 1992
Type
OrbiterTarget
EarthStatus
PastAn Earth satellite designed to measure ocean surface topography with unprecedented accuracy, Topex/Poseidon spent 13-plus years in orbit improving understanding of ocean circulation and its impact on global climate. In addition to producing the first global views of seasonal current changes, it enabled scientists to forecast and better understand the El Nino phenomenon of the late 1990s.
Topex/Poseidon was a joint project between NASA and France's National Center for Space Studies, or CNES.
Instruments
