Editing TOPEX/Poseidon (section)

{{short description|Satellite mission to map ocean surface topography}}
{{Infobox spaceflight
| name                  = TOPEX/Poseidon
| image                 = TOPEX;Poseidon.jpg
| image_size            = 275px
| image_caption         = Artist's rendering of the TOPEX/Poseidon satellite.

| mission_type          = [[Remote sensing]]
| operator              = [[NASA]] and [[CNES]]
| website               = 
| COSPAR_ID             = 1992-052A
| SATCAT                = 22076
| mission_duration      = Achieved: {{time interval|10 August 1992|January 2006|show=ymd|sep=,}}<br/> In Orbit: {{time interval|August 10, 1992|show=ymd|sep=,}} 

| spacecraft_bus        = 
| manufacturer          = 
| dimensions            = 
| dry_mass              = 
| launch_mass           = {{convert|2400|kg}}
| power                 =

| launch_date           = {{start-date|10 August 1992}}
| launch_rocket         = [[Ariane (rocket)|Ariane]] 42P
| launch_site           = ''[[Guiana Space Centre]]'', [[Kourou]]
| launch_contractor     =

| declared              = {{end-date|January 18, 2006}}
| deactivated           = October 2005

| decay_date            =

| orbit_reference       = [[geocentric orbit|Geocentric]]
| orbit_regime          = Non [[Sun-synchronous orbit|Sun-synchronous]]
| orbit_periapsis       = {{convert|1340|km|mi|sp=us}}<ref name="IRL">{{Cite web|url=https://ilrs.cddis.eosdis.nasa.gov/missions/satellite_missions/past_missions/topx_general.html|title=TOPEX/Poseidon|website=International Laser Ranging Service}}</ref>
| orbit_apoapsis        = {{convert|1340|km|mi|sp=us}}<ref name="IRL" />
| orbit_inclination     = 66&nbsp;degrees<ref name="IRL" />
| orbit_eccentricity    = 0.000<ref name="IRL" />
| orbit_period          = 112&nbsp;minutes<ref name="IRL" />
| apsis                 = gee

| insignia              = 
| insignia_size         = 
| insignia_caption      = 
}}

'''TOPEX/Poseidon''' was a joint [[satellite altimeter]] mission between [[NASA]], the U.S. space agency; and [[CNES]], the French space agency, to map [[ocean surface topography]]. Launched on August 10, 1992, it was the first major oceanographic research satellite. TOPEX/Poseidon helped revolutionize oceanography by providing data previously impossible to obtain. Oceanographer [[Walter Munk]] described TOPEX/Poseidon as "the most successful ocean experiment of all time."<ref>Munk.W.: Testimony Before the U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy, April 2002, http://govinfo.library.unt.edu/oceancommission/meetings/apr18_19_02/munk_statement.pdf</ref> A malfunction ended normal satellite operations in January 2006.<ref name="NASA" />