OSCAR
Observing Systems Capability Analysis and Review Tool
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Observation Requirements
Space-based Capabilities
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Overview
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Satellites
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Satellite Status
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Satellite Programme: Topography Experiment + Poseidon
Programme details
Programme description
Single-satellite programme, for ocean altimetry.
Follow-on of GEOSat (1985-1990) and precursor of the JASON operational series.
Joint NASA-CNES programme, merging the CNES Poseidon and the NASA TOPEX: NASA provided the satellite bus, four instruments and spacecraft operations; CNES provided two instruments and the launch service.
Platform actively stabilised over 3 axes.
Design lifetime: 3 years.
The satellite exploits the optimal orbit for altimetry of geodetic accuracy (66° inclination, 1336 km altitude).
See detailed description at
http://topex-www.jpl.nasa.gov/missions/topex
.
Data circulation
Onboard stored data downlinked to the Project Operations Control Center (POCC) at NASA/JPL, Pasadena, CA.
Data processed and distributed from the JPL Physical Oceanographic Distributed Active Archive Center (PODAAC), and the French Archiving, Validation and Interpretation of Satellite Oceanographic data (AVISO).
Agencies
NASA
,
CNES
Programme lifetime
1992 - 2005
Associated satellites and instruments
Note: red tag => no longer operational , green tag => operational , blue tag => planned
Topography Experiment + Poseidon
TOPEX-Poseidon
(1992-2005)
DORIS
GPSDR
LRA
NRA
SSALT
TMR