Jason-1 and Jason-2 each use a multimission Proteus platform. These are fitted with standard equipment necessary for correct satellite operations and a payload. Altimetry missions carry:

• an altimeter: Poseidon 2 on Jason-1 (CNES) and Poseidon 3 on Jason-2 (CNES) for measuring satellite altitude above sea-level, wind speed and wave height, 
• a radiometer: JMR (Jason-1 Microwave Radiometer) on Jason-1 (NASA) and AMR (Advanced Microwave Radiometer) on Jason-2 for measuring disturbances due to water present in the atmosphere.
• Location systems: 
  a Doris system for precise orbit determination
  a GPS receiver for calculating satellite location 
  an LRA (Laser Reflected Area) for precise calibration of the other instruments.

In addition, Jason 2 carries 3 "passenger" instruments: the Carmen 2 and LPT (Light Particles Telescope) dosimeters and a T2L2 (Time Transfer by Laser Link) instrument.

Jason 1:

• the Jason Control and Command Centre (JCCC), located in Toulouse, coordinates satellite control, data reception and transmission of each day’s orders to the NASA control centre;
• the American Topex/Jason-1 Control Centre (JTCCS), located at JPL (Pasadena, USA), ensures routine monitoring of satellite performance and sends telecommands to the satellite ; it also supervises instruments under US responsibility;
• the SSALTO multi-mission centre, located at the Toulouse Space Centre, programs CNES instruments on the satellites, monitors and validates scientific performance and processes science data products for later distribution;
• an American mission centre, located at JPL (JSDS) is responsible for real-time mission products and their diffusion as well as reprocessing off-line products.

Jason 2:

• the Jason-2 Control and Command Centre (J2CCC), located in Toulouse, coordinates satellite control, data reception and transmission of each day’s orders to the NOAA control centre;
• the American Topex/Jason-2 Control Centre (J2TCCS), located at NOAA (Suitland, USA), ensures routine monitoring of satellite performance and sends telecommands to the satellite; it also supervises instruments under US responsibility;
• the SSALTO multi-mission centre, located at the Toulouse Space Centre, programs CNES instruments on the satellites, monitors and validates scientific performance and processes science data products for later distribution;
• two centres for generating real-time mission products, one located at Darmstadt (Eumetsat), the second at Suitland (NOAA), are responsible for handling and distributing real-time products.