Jason 2 (OSTM)

Launch data: Designation  08032A Launch date  20 Jun 2008 - 07:46 UT Launch site  Va, SLC-2W Launch vehicle  Delta-7320-10C (#D334) Mission  Rem. sensing Perigee / Apogee   km Eccentricity   Inclination   deg Period   min

Spacecraft data:

Mission details:

• The Jason-2 Ocean Surface Topography Mission was launched on Jun 20. The main instrument on the joint French-US mission is the Poseidon 3 altimeter to measure sea surface heights.
• The Delta first stage reportedly underperformed slightly, but the second stage made up the deficit and reached a 185 x 1414 km x 66.5 deg transfer orbit, a 1329 x 1335 km x 66.0 deg mission orbit where it deployed Jason-2, and two further burns to a 1332 x 4258 x 65.85 orbit and then a 2160 x 4360 km x 65.2 deg disposal orbit, using extra fuel left over because the payload was so light. The final orbit was expected to be 2468 x 4824 km, but the additional propellant usage in the first burn seems to have reduced the height achieved.