NASA launched SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket with Jason-3 Ocean-monitoring satellite

On 17 January 2016, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) launched the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from California’s Vandenberg Air Force Base in the USA. The rocket carried the ocean monitoring satellite Jason -3 on board and successfully inserted it in the desired orbit. However, the rocket failed a return landing on drone platform in the Pacific Ocean. The Jason-3 satellite will examine the topography of the ocean floor to help study effects of climate change or human-induced changes on the ocean.

Features:

Ø  It is the fourth mission in U.S.-European series of satellite mission that measure the height of the ocean surface.

Ø  It is also expected to help the USA in better forecasting of hurricane and marine navigation.

Ø  It will extend the time series of ocean surface topography measurements (the hills and valleys of the ocean surface) begun by the TOPEX/Poseidon satellite mission in 1992 and continuing through the currently operating Jason-1 and Jason-2 missions.

Ø  The Jason-1 and OSTM/Jason-2 missions were launched in 2001 and 2008 respectively.

Ø  These measurements provide scientists with critical information about circulation patterns in the oceans and about both global and regional changes in the sea level and the climate implications of warming world.