OCO-2
Orbiting Carbon Observatory-2 (OCO-2) is NASA's satellite mission measuring column-averaged atmospheric carbon dioxide and solar-induced chlorophyll fluorescence. Launched on July 2, 2014, its observations support research on carbon sources and sinks and vegetation photosynthesis. The narrow ground track and the inability to observe through clouds and thick aerosols leave large gaps in coverage. Retrospective Level-2 Lite products provide reference retrieval records; global gridded fields and surface-flux estimates require additional assimilation or inversion and are distinct from direct observations.
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Identity
- Aliases
- OCO-2OCO2Orbiting Carbon Observatory 2Orbiting Carbon Observatory-2 Mission
- Name
- OCO-2
- Status
- active
Details
- Astronauts
- -
- Description
- Orbiting Carbon Observatory-2 (OCO-2) is NASA's satellite mission measuring column-averaged atmospheric carbon dioxide and solar-induced chlorophyll fluorescence. Launched on July 2, 2014, its observations support research on carbon sources and sinks and vegetation photosynthesis. The narrow ground track and the inability to observe through clouds and thick aerosols leave large gaps in coverage. Retrospective Level-2 Lite products provide reference retrieval records; global gridded fields and surface-flux estimates require additional assimilation or inversion and are distinct from direct observations.
- Destination
- Near-polar, sun-synchronous orbit at 705 km (98.2° inclination) for global atmospheric carbon-dioxide and solar-induced-fluorescence measurements of Earth’s carbon cycle
- Launch Site
- Programs
- Start Date
- 2014-07-02
- Vehicle Families
Links
- Official Url
- https://science.nasa.gov/mission/oco-2/
Assets & Meta
- Creation Time
- August 14, 2026 at 13:03:07 UTC
- Updated Time
- October 29, 2026 at 15:13:02 UTC
Other
- Affiliations
- Space Stations
- -
- Vehicles