| Date: | 2008-06-20 01:41:00 | |
| Sender: | Frank Lemoine <Frank Lemoine <Frank.G.Lemoine@nasa.gov>> | |
| Subject: | [SLR-Mail] No. 1683: Imminent Launch of Jason-2 on June 20, 2008 09:46 UT | |
| Author: | Frank Lemoine | |
| Content: | ******************************************************************************** SLR Electronic Mail 2008-06-20 01:41:00 UTC Message No. 1683 ******************************************************************************** Author: Frank Lemoine Subject: Imminent Launch of Jason-2 on June 20, 2008 09:46 UT Dear Colleagues, This message is to advise of the imminent launch of Jason-2, the follow-on satellite oceanography and ocean radar altimeter mission to Jason-1. The launch will occur on June 20, 2008 at 09:46 UT, provided there are no launch delays due to weather or other contingencies. Over approximately the next 13 days, the spacecraft will perform a sequence of maneuvers, the objective of which is to move the spacecraft to fly in tandem mode with Jason-1. By approximately July 3, Jason-2 will be flying approximately one minute behind Jason-1 in orbit space. The CNES and the ILRS central bureau will advise on when to initiate the tracking for Jason-2 and the CNES has the operational responsability to supply the SLR predicts. The Jason-2 and Jason-1 spacecraft will fly in tandem mode (one minute apart) for approximately six months. This period of close formation flying is the essential means by which the altimeter and tracking systems on the Jason-2 mission will be calibrated. From the scientific perspective, this tandem period is of utmost importance, and is absolutely vital to tieing together the altimeter time series from Jason-1 and Jason-2 and ultimately maximizing the value of the long-term altimeter data set from TOPEX, Jason-1 and Jason-2 and what we hope will be a continuing series of successor satellites. We look forward to the support of the ILRS community for this essential endeavor and we sincerely all your efforts in this regard. Information about the Jason-2 mission can be found at the website http://ilrs.gsfc.nasa.gov/satellite_missions/list_of_satellites/jas2_general.html and general mission information can be found at the URL: http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/ostm/main/index.html The Jason-2 Mission is a joint mission with NASA, CNES, NOAA and EUMETSAT. Regards, Frank Lemoine Code 698, Planetary Geodynamics Laboratory NASA Goddard Space Flight Center From: Frank Lemoine ******************************************************************************** |