TOPEX/Poseidon

past Mission

Type

Orbiter

Launch

Aug. 10, 1992

Target

Earth

Objective

Obtain global measurements of sea-surface heights using radar altimetry

A joint venture between the French Space Agency CNES and NASA that measured ocean surface topography, TOPEX/Poseidon enabled scientists to forecast the 1997-1998 El Niño weather phenomenon, and improved understanding of ocean circulation and its effect on global climate.

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