As for JASON-1, the execution framework of JASON-2 is an international cooperation. However, this cooperation has expanded: in the United States, the NOAA is associated with NASA and in Europe, EUMETSAT is associated with CNES. The distribution of responsibility for the OSTM/JASON-2 mission is the same as that adopted for JASON-1 whilst taking account of the projects expansion with the two operational agencies, NOAA and EUMETSAT.

Furthermore, the development and execution of the Carmen2/LPT (Light Particle Telescope) experiment is the subject of a specific agreement between CNES/JAXA.

A more detailed breakdown of this cooperation is found below:

CNES


is responsible for the overall management of the project and the system,
is the prime contractor for the satellite system that uses the PROTEUS platformS,
contributes to the payload by supplying the POSEIDON3 nadir altimeter, the DORIS onboard system, the technological "passengers" T2L2, Carmen2 and LTP,
provides the satellite control centre and a ground station that will be installed in Germany for EUMETSAT,
is responsible for the definition and execution of all system tests,
operates the satellite during the in-flight acceptance phase and the critical phases, provides the production of steering controls and orbit control and satellite expertise throughout the satellite's entire service life,
processes, archives and distributes scientific data,
archives operational data.


EUMETSAT


supplies the infrastructure for the ground station and provides its maintenance operations,
processes and distributes operational data,
acts as an interface between operational users.


NASA


supports CNES in the overall management of the system,
supplies the vehicle launcher, launch operations and associated infrastructures,
contributes to the payload by supplying the UHF radiometer (designed for tropospheric corrections), the GPS receiver and the laser retroreflector (for precise orbit determination).


NOAA


supplies two ground stations,
suppliers an operations centre and conducts routine operations on the satellite after transfer to the CNES control centre,
processes and distributes operational data,
acts as an interface with operational users,
archives and distributes scientific data.

CNES/JAXA cooperation on LPT/Carmen2 is broken down as follows:

CNES


is responsible for this experiment with regards to the three JASON-2 partners,
supplies the Carmen2 instrument,
carries out engineering studies required to host the instruments and integrate them into the satellite,
process data.


JAXA


provides the LPT instrument, supports its integration on the satellite,
processes data.

High-level management of the project is provided by the “Joint Steering Group” (JSG), made up of representatives from the four agencies CNES/EUMETSAT/NASA/NOAA. This group is responsible for monitoring scheduling activities of the JASON-2 mission and high-level decisions.

Role of OSTST

To conclude, an international group of scientists, the "Ocean Surface Topography Science Team" (OSTST), provides an independent assessment of scientific objectives and advances and contributes to wider distribution of advances achieved in an international context.