On June 20th. 2008. A Delta II rocket roared off the launch pad at Vandenberg Air Force Base. California.
The 12:46 a.m.. pacific time. liftoff began the Ocean Surface Topography Mission. or OSTM. as part of the Jason-2 spacecraft.
The satellite is in an orbit that will let it scan 95 percent of the world's ice-free oceans every 10 days from its low Earth orbit.
Like its predecessor satellites. Topex/Poseidon and Jason-1. OSTM/Jason-2 is extending the climate data record by providing a long-term survey of Earth's oceans.
It tracks circulation patterns. measures sea-surface height and the rate of sea-level rise. which are critical factors in understanding climate change.
An international science team of more than 200 investigators will use data obtained from the
satellite's instruments to study the world's ocean and its effect on our society.