Falcon 9 Jason3 launch

Falcon 9 launches Jason-3 satellite but landing attempt fails

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A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket successfully launched an ocean science satellite Jan. 17, although an attempt to land the rocket’s first stage on a ship apparently failed.

Launch Missions Falcon 9Jason-3NASASpaceX
Falcon 9 static fire test

Static Fire Test Sets Stage for Next Falcon 9 Launch and Landing Attempt

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SpaceX performed a successful static fire test of its Falcon 9 rocket late Jan. 11, clearing the way for the launch of an ocean science satellite, and another first stage landing attempt, this weekend.

Launch Missions Jason-3SpaceXVandenberg
SWOT

Thales Alenia Space Awarded CNES Contract for Ocean Altimetry Instrument

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The company will build the next-generation radar altimeter for the billion-dollar U.S.-French Surface Water Ocean Topography (SWOT) mission to launch in 2020.

Business Missions CNESJason-3
Jason-3, shown here entering thermal vacuum tests, is ready to head to Vandenberg after Thales Alenia Space determined that its contaminated thruster was nothing to worry about. Credit: Thales Alenia Space

Unnecessary Timeout Pushes Jason-3 Launch to July or August

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The Jason-3 satellite will be shipped to Vandenberg June 18, in time for a late-July/early-August launch aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 following a nine-day delay that turned out to have been unnecessary.

Launch Missions CNESEarth ScienceJason-3NOAA
Jason3_NASA4X3.jpg

Spacecraft Contamination Postpones SpaceX Launch of Jason-3 Ocean Satellite

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SpaceX’s July 22 launch of the U.S. French Jason-3 ocean altimetry satellite has been postponed because of an issue with the spacecraft, the company’s customer, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, said June 2.

Launch Missions Jason-3NOAASpaceX