Jason-3 satellite launch,January 2016. SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket ascending during the launch of the Jason-3 satellite at Vandenberg Air Force Base,Space Launch Complex 4 East,California,USA. This satellite,launched on 16 January 2016,is a joint mission between NASA and NOAA in the USA,and CNES and EUMETSAT in Europe. It is carrying out the Ocean Surface Topography Mission (OSTM) using instruments such as a radar altimeter to map ocean surface topography. This allows global monitoring of tides,ocean currents and oscillations,ocean circulation,and climate change-induced rises in sea levels. Photographed on 16 January 2016 |