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Orbiting Carbon Observatory

NASA’s Orbiting Carbon Observatory was an Earth-observing mission designed to provide space-based measurements of atmospheric carbon dioxide, the principal human-driven greenhouse gas, and improve understanding of the global carbon cycle. Its Taurus XL launch on February 24, 2009 failed when the launch vehicle could not complete the planned ascent.

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Identity

Aliases
OCOOrbiting Carbon ObservatoryOrbiting Carbon Observatory (OCO)
Name
Orbiting Carbon Observatory
Status
failed

Details

Astronauts
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Description
NASA’s Orbiting Carbon Observatory was an Earth-observing mission designed to provide space-based measurements of atmospheric carbon dioxide, the principal human-driven greenhouse gas, and improve understanding of the global carbon cycle. Its Taurus XL launch on February 24, 2009 failed when the launch vehicle could not complete the planned ascent.
Destination
Earth
End Date
2009-02-24
Programs
Start Date
2009-02-24
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Creation Time
August 14, 2026 at 16:52:19 UTC
Updated Time
August 15, 2026 at 02:18:58 UTC

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