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HomeTech/ScienceNASA reports NOAA's Jason-3 Satellite set to launch January 17th

NASA reports NOAA’s Jason-3 Satellite set to launch January 17th

Written by Steve Cole
NASA Headquarters

NASA - National Aeronautics and Space AdministrationWashington, D.C. – Jason-3, an international mission led by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to continue U.S.-European satellite measurements of the topography of the ocean surfaces, is scheduled for launch from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California on Sunday, January 17th.

Liftoff aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg’s Space Launch Complex 4 East is targeted for 10:42:18am PST (12:42:18pm CST) at the opening of a 30-second launch window. If needed, a backup launch opportunity is available on the Western Range on January 18th at 10:31:04am PST (12:31:04pm CST).

Artist's rendering of Jason-3. (NASA)
Artist’s rendering of Jason-3. (NASA)

Jason-3 will maintain the ability to monitor and precisely measure global sea surface heights, monitor the intensification of tropical cyclones and support seasonal and coastal forecasts.

Data from Jason-3 will support scientific, commercial and practical applications related to ocean circulation and climate change.

Additionally, Jason-3 data will be applied to fisheries management, marine industries and research into human impacts on the world’s oceans.

The mission is planned to last at least three years with a goal of five years.

Jason-3 is a four-agency international partnership consisting of NOAA, NASA, the French Space Agency CNES (Centre National d’Etudes Spatiales) and EUMETSAT (the European Organization for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites). Thales Alenia of France built the spacecraft.

NOAA, in collaboration with the European partners, is responsible for the Jason-3 mission. NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California, is responsible for NASA Jason-3 project management. NASA’s Launch Services Program at the agency’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida provides launch management. SpaceX of Hawthorne, California, is NASA’s launch service provider of the Falcon 9 rocket.

Prelaunch New Conference

Jason-3 Mission Science Briefing

Friday, January 15th: The Jason-3 Mission Science Briefing and prelaunch news conference will be held starting at 4:00pm PST (6:007pm CST) at Vandenberg Air Force Base. The pre-launch news conference will be first at 4:00pm PST, followed by the mission science briefing at 4:45pm PST.

Both events will be carried live on NASA Television and streamed on NASA.gov and www.ustream.tv/NASAJPL2.

Participants in the pre-launch news conference will be:

— Jim Silva, Jason-3 program manager, NOAA, Washington, D.C.

— Sandra Smalley, director, Science Mission Directorate Joint Agency Satellite Division, NASA Headquarters, Washington

— Tim Dunn, NASA launch manager, Kennedy Space Center, Florida

— Hans Koenigsmann, vice president of Mission Assurance, SpaceX, Hawthorne, California

— Parag Vaze, Jason-3 project manager, JPL

— Lt. Joseph Round, launch weather officer, 30th Operations Support Squadron, Vandenberg Air Force Base, California

Participants in the Jason-3 Mission Science Briefing will be:

— Laury Miller, Jason-3 program scientist and chief, NOAA Laboratory for Satellite Altimetry

— Josh Willis, Jason-3 project scientist, JPL

— Marc Cohen, associate director and chief of Low Earth Orbit Programmes, EUMETSAT

— Sophie Coutin Faye, chief, Altimetry and Precise Positioning Office, CNES

NASA Television Launch Day Coverage

On launch day, January 17th, NASA TV launch commentary coverage of the countdown will begin at 8:00am PST (10:00am CST). Launch is targeted for 10:42:18am PST (12:42:18pm CST).

The launch window is 30 seconds in duration. Spacecraft separation from the rocket occurs 55 minutes after launch.

For information on receiving NASA TV, go to:

http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/nasatv/index.html

NASA Web Prelaunch and Launch Coverage

For extensive prelaunch, countdown and launch day coverage of the liftoff, including the prelaunch webcast of Jason-3 aboard the Falcon 9 rocket, go to:

http://blogs.nasa.gov/Jason3

Social Media

Throughout the launch countdown, the NASA Launch Services Program and NASA JPL Twitter and Facebook accounts will be continuously updated at:

https://www.twitter.com/NASALSP

https://twitter.com/NASAKennedy

https://twitter.com/NASAJPL

https://www.facebook.com/NASALSP

https://www.facebook.com/NASAJPL

https://www.facebook.com/NASAKennedy

Live countdown coverage on NASA’s launch blog begins at 8 a.m. PST

(11 a.m. EST). Coverage features real-time updates of countdown milestones, as well as streaming video clips highlighting launch preparations and liftoff.

For more information about the Jason-3 mission, visit:

http://www.nesdis.noaa.gov/jason-3

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