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Orbiting Carbon Observatory 2 (OCO-2)
Status:
Current, Extended Mission
Mission Category:
Earth System Science Pathfinder Program, A-Train
Launch Date: July 2, 2014
Launch Location: Vandenberg Air Force Base, CA
Designed Life: July 2, 2019
The second Orbiting Carbon Observatory (OCO-2) mission is designed to provide space-based global measurements of atmospheric carbon dioxide with the precision and resolution needed to identify and characterize the processes that regulate this important greenhouse gas. With its three high-resolution grating spectrometers, data collected by OCO-2 is combined with meteorological observations and ground-based carbon dioxide measurements to help characterize carbon dioxide sources and sinks on regional scales at monthly intervals.
Key Orbiting Carbon Observatory 2 Facts
| Mission/Portal Page: | http://science.nasa.gov/missions/oco-2/ |
|---|---|
| Launch Vehicle: | Delta-2 |
| Altitude:Distance from sea level. | 705km |
| Inclination: | 98.2° |
| Local Node:Approximate time, at the equator when vehicle is directly overhead. | 1:15 p.m. |
| Origination: | NASA |
| Instruments: |
Three high-resolution grating spectrometers |
| Project Scientist(s): |
Mike Gunson |
| Deputy Project Scientist(s): |
Annmarie Eldering |
Related Publications:
- Orbiting Carbon Observatory (OCO) (Mission Brochures - 7.73 MB)
- Orbiting Carbon Observatory 2 (2014) (iBooks - 3.76 MB)
- Observing Carbon Dioxide in the Earth System (Postcards - 479.39 KB)
Relevant Science Focus Areas:
- Carbon Cycle, Ecosystems, and Biogeochemistry
- Earth Surface and Interior
Relevant Science Questions:
- How does the Earth system respond to natural and human-induced changes?
- How is the global Earth system changing?
- How will the Earth system change in the future?
Science Goals:
- Improve our understanding of the geographic distribution of CO2 sources and sinks (surface fluxes) and the processes controlling their variability on seasonal time scales.
- Validate a passive spectroscopic measurement approach and analysis concept that is well suited for future systematic CO2 monitoring missions.
Related Applications:
- Air Quality
- Carbon Management
- Public Health