Jason satellite series
The oceanographic altimeter satellites of the Jason series have been collecting high accuracy measurements of the global ocean's topography since early 1990s, providing a continuous data record of the ocean's response to climate change, especially sea level rise. They also measure topography of inland waters, which is important for understanding droughts and floods. The Jason series satellites have been developed and operated by a broad collaboration of US and European institutions including NASA, CNES, NOAA, EUMETSAT, and ESA. The latest iteration, two identical Jason-CS/Sentinel-6 satellites, is part of the European Union's Copernicus Programme.
Satellites
TOPEX/Poseidon, predecessor to the Jason satellitesJason-1 OSTM/Jason-2 Jason-3, launched in 2016- Sentinel-6 Michael Freilich, launched in 2020Sentinel-6B, launched in November 2025Sentinel-6C, expected to launch in 2030s