National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has successfully launched the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying Jason-3 Ocean-monitoring satellite.
It was launched from California’s Vandenberg Air Force Base and the satellite has been successfully inserted it in the desired orbit.
Jason-3 is the 4th mission in the joint US-European series of satellite missions that measure the height of the ocean surface.
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Jason-3 has been incorporated with radar altimeter that will measure sea-level variations of oceans across the world with very high accuracy.
It will examine the topography of the ocean floor to help study effects of climate change or human-induced changes on the ocean.
It will also seek to boost hurricane forecasting and marine navigation. It will provide scientists with critical information about ocean circulation patterns.
It will also provide information about both global and regional changes in sea level and the climate implications of a warming world.
Earlier launched two satellites of Jason mission are Jason-1 and Jason-2 OSTM which were launched in 2001 and 2008 respectively.
About SpaceX Falcon 9 rockets
Falcon 9 rocket is a two-stage rocket designed and manufactured by Space Exploration Technologies Corporation (SpaceX).
It is a private space transport services company. It is basically used for the reliable and safe transport of satellites and is powered by liquid oxygen (LOX) and rocket-grade kerosene (RP-1) propellants.
Current Affairs: 18th January, 2016 Current Affairs Round up December, 2015.
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