JASON-3 (41240)

COSPAR: 2016-002A | Alt Name: Jason-3

Image

Additional Sources

Launch Details

Launch Date

January 17, 2016

Launch Site

AFWTR

Launch Pad

SLC4E

Launch Vehicle

Falcon 9

Orbital Elements

NORAD ID

41240

International Designator

2016-002A

Epoch

Sat, 04 Jul 2026 04:01:39 GMT

Apogee

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Perigee

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Inclination

66.04°

Right Ascension

90.14°

Eccentricity

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Argument of Perigee

271.81°

Period

111.83 min

Mean Motion

12.88 rev/day

Latitude

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Longitude

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Altitude

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Velocity

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Polar Plot

3D Visualization

Basic Satellite Info

Name

JASON-3

Alternative Name

Jason-3

Type

Payload

Status

Partially operational

Owner

CNES/NOAA

Country

France

Constellation

N/A

Related Satellites

Major Events

N/A

Latest TLEs

1 41240U 16002A   26185.16781289 -.00000022  00000-0  15986-3 0  9991

2 41240  66.0418  90.1367 0008289 271.8062  88.2008 12.87623395489437

Source: Celestrak

Summary

JASON-3, also known as Jason-3, is a satellite designed for altimetry and radar missions operated by CNES/NOAA. Launched on January 17, 2016, from Vandenberg Air Force Base (SLC4E) using a Falcon 9 launch vehicle, it has a NORAD catalog ID of 41240 and an object ID of 2016-002A. Equipped with the Proteus Bus, its dimensions are 3.7 meters in length, 1.9 meters in diameter, and spans 9.7 meters. The satellite has a launch mass of 553 kg and a dry mass of 525 kg. Key equipment includes Poseidon-3 (#2), Poseidon-B (#3), AMR, DORIS, NavstarP, LRA, powered by two deployable solar arrays and batteries. Its designed lifetime was 3 years but it reached an operational lifespan of 11 years. The satellite's shape is characterized as a box with two panels and has a radar cross-section of 2.7109 square meters.

Physical Characteristics

Length

3.7

Diameter

1.9

Span

9.7

Dry Mass

525

Launch Mass

553

Shape

Box + 2 Pan

Radar Cross Section

2.7109

Visual Magnitude

Unknown

Color

Unknown

Material Composition

Unknown

Technical Details

Payload

Jason-3

Purpose

Altimetry, Radar

Mission

Altimetry, Radar

Manufacturer

THALES

Life Expectancy

3 years (design); 11 years (reached, #2)

Bus

Proteus

Configuration

Proteus Bus

Motor

AOCS

Equipment

Poseidon-3 (#2), Poseidon-B (#3), AMR, DORIS, NavstarP, LRA

Power System

2 deployable solar arrays, batteries

ADCS

Unknown

Transmitter Frequency

Unknown

Map

This tool will help you track the satellite's position and predict its upcoming passes over your location. Simply input the coordinates or click the geolocation button to get started.

Latitude

Longitude

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Azimuth Elevation Time (Local)

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Max Elevation

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Time Until

Pass Duration

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