The Ocean Surface Topography Mission spacecraft is getting final checkouts after mating to the Delta II rocket on the Space Launch Complex 2.

The Ocean Surface Topography Mission, or OSTM/Jason-2, spacecraft is getting final checkouts after mating to the Delta II rocket on the Space Launch Complex 2 at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California. The launch of the OSTM/Jason 2 aboard the Delta II rocket is scheduled for June 20. The launch window extends from 12:46 a.m. to 12:55 a.m. PDT. The satellite will be placed in an 830-mile-high orbit at an inclination of 66 degrees after separating from the Delta II 55 minutes after liftoff. The five primary science instruments of the Ocean Surface Topography Mission aboard the Jason 2 spacecraft are dedicated to measuring ocean surface height. These measurements will be used to evaluate and forecast climate changes and improve weather forecasting. The results also are expected to help forecasters better predict hurricane intensity.