The Jason-1 Satellite Design and Development Status

The Jason satellite is the first satellite based on the PROTEUS small satellite platform. The stated objectives of the PROTEUS product line are to reduce costs and development time, while maintaining a high level of performances for science missions. The Jason mission is a follow-on cooperative effort between NASA and CNES for the continuous observation of the oceans. Jason will ensure ocean measurement survey until 2005, as a successor to the TOPEX-POSEIDON mission. The JASON satellite carries on-board instrumentation unherited from the TOPEX program but at much less mass, power and cost. The satellite will be launched on-board a Delta 2 launcher in May 2000, from the Vandenbergh Air Force Base. The JASON CDR bas been beld in July 98. Satellite elements are now in development. Platform and payload module integration will start by end of 98.