Delta Launches Jason, TIMED

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Delta Launches Jason, TIMED

More Information:

A Delta 2 successfully launched two science satellites from Vandenberg AFB, pad SLC 2-W at 1507:35 UTC (7:07 a.m. PST) on December 7. The Jason 1 satellite is a joint project between CNES and NASA. The TIMED (Thermosphere Ionosphere Mesosphere Energetics and Dynamics) atmospheric research satellite is sponsored by NASA/JPL. The Delta rocket initially launched into a 215 km (116 nmi) by 1343 km (725 nmi), orbit with an inclination of 66.18 degrees. Jason 1 will orbit at 1,336 km (722 nmi) with an inclination of 66 degrees. TIMED will fly in a circular 625 km (337 nmi) orbit, inclined at 74.1 degrees. Jason 1 cost US$185 million and TIMED costs US$235 million.

The 500 kg (1102 lbm) Jason 1 is the first follow-on mission to

TOPEX/Poseidon. Jason 1 is a joint project of NASA and CNES. In addition to continuin

g TOPEX/Poseidon's mission of providing ocean altimetry data and providing near-real time altimetry data for predicting sea state and ocean circulation. Jason 1 will provide sea level and sea state measurements with turnaround times of hours to days.

Jason 1 is carrying five instruments: the Poseidon 2 altimeter; a microwave radiometer to measure atmospheric water vapor; and three precision location-finding instruments.

Jason 1 will enter orbit about 10 to15 kilometers (5 to 8 miles) below Topex/Poseidon's 1,337 km (722 nmi) orbit. Jason 1 will use its thrusters over the next few weeks to raise itself to the same orbital altitude as Topex/Poseidon, and then move in close behind its predecessor, trailing by about 500 km (270 nmi). The two spacecraft will fly in formation, making nearly simultaneous measurements. The science team will compare the data to make sure the instruments are calibrated exactly. This procedure is expected to take about six months. Jason 1 will then assume Topex/Poseidon's former orbital path, and Topex/Poseidon will move to a parallel ground track located midway between two Jason 1 ground tracks. Jason 1's mission is designed to last three years.

Jason-1 is the first satellite built around the new PROTEUS multimission spacecraft bus. The satellite bus was designed and built by CNES in cooperation with Alcatel Space Industries. PROTEUS is a flexible satellite bus designed to be used to build small satellites in a modular fashion. The PROTEUS bus, built in Cannes, will remain largely unchanged from satellite to satellite; the different sensors required for a specific application being simply added on. PROTEUS is an acronym for Plate Forme Reconfigurable pour líObservation de la terre, les Telecommunications et les Utilisations Scientifiques.

The name "Jason" is derived from the leader of the Argonauts in their search for the golden fleece. The "1" reflects an expectation that Jason is intended to be the first of several follow-ons to the TOPEX/Poseidon project.

TIMED will study the effects of the sun and human-induced activities on the least explored and understood portion of Earth's atmosphere known as the Mesosphere and Lower Thermosphere/Ionosphere. The satellite will focus on a portion of this atmospheric region located approximately 60-180 km (32-97 nmi) above Earth's surface, studying its basic structure and how energy is transferred into and out of this area.

The Solar Terrestrial Probes Program Office at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Md., manages the TIMED mission for the Office of Space Science, Washington, DC. JHU/APL designed, built and will operate the spacecraft and lead the science effort for NASA during the mission.

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December 7, 2001