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Jason-2 successfully launchedThe Jason-2 ocean altimetry satellite was successfully launched by Nasa from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California on a Delta II launcher on June 20th 2008. Mercator Ocean operational systems are big altimetry data consumers and can rely on the continuity of this type of data.Aiming to study ocean and climate, Jason-2 is carrying on Jason-1, still operational, after 7 years in orbit. On board: Poseidon-3 altimeter and 4 other instruments are constituting the scientific payload. Jason-2 is the third French-American Cnes-Nasa cooperation altimetry satellite. Two new partners have joined the consortium: Eumetsat and Noaa. Jason-2 enables altimetry data contininuity started in 1992 with Topex/Poseidon. In five years, at the theoretical Jason-2 end of life, 20 years of continuous ocean topography measurement will be available. The main enhancement of Jason-2 is a very more precise measurement above coastal areas and terrestrial waters. This is due to a coupling between DORIS positionning system with a digital elevation model. Mercator ocean operational systems are ready to assimilate these new data, as soon as they will be calibrated and validated. First ocean forecasts based on Jason-2 data will occur probably in March 2009.
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