The agency declared, NASA’s satellite Jason 1, after 11 and a half years tracking sea level, finished its useful life. After its rest transmitter failed, the satellite was retired this week.

Jason 1, determined sea surface height within a few centimeters which is one of the three oceanographic satellites that carried a radar altimeter and bounced radio pulses off the Earth. From the data, scientists have reinforced their models of ocean circulation and examined events, for example El Nino, where large masses of warm water pool in the eastern Pacific Ocean.

On June 21, the communication with satellite was lost and it was re-established unsuccessfully. The satellite was ordered to close its attitude control systems on Monday. Jason 1 will be away from the sun and its solar-powered batteries will be discharged in the following 90 days. Before the satellite falls back into Earth’s atmosphere, it will stay in orbit for at least 1,000 years.