Jason-3 satellite launches with mission to measure oceans

A US-European satellite that is fundamental to our understanding of the oceans has launched from California.

Jason-3 will measure the shape of the global sea surface to an accuracy of better than 4cm.

Jason-3 was launched atop a SpaceX Falcon-9 rocket from Vandenberg Air Force base at 10:42 local time (18:42 GMT).

An attempt by SpaceX to recover the bottom part of the Falcon by landing it back on a sea barge failed when it toppled over and exploded.

See the moment the Falcon took off from Vandenberg Air Force base.