Just announced is the January 2009 launch date for the NASA JPL (Jet Propulsion Laboratory) new earth observation satellite called the Orbiting Carbon Observatory (OCO) made by Orbital Sciences Corporation that is part of NASA's Earth System Science Pathfinder (ESSP) Program. The two-year OCO program will provide detailed global measurements of carbon dioxide.
The 400kg OCO satellite is part of the Earth Observing System Afternoon Constellation called the A-train that includes AURA, PARASOL, CALIPSO, CLOUDSAT and AQUA observation satellites. The program involves a constellation of highly specialized satellites to make atmospheric measurements of the oceans, land surface and atmosphere. These missions share a common goal of improving the capability of Earth scientists to predict changes in weather, climate and natural hazards. The scientific data will improve the understanding of the carbon dioxide distribution and sources, man-made and natural.
The high tech OCO carbon dioxide measurement instrument has three Hamilton Sundstrand Sensor Systems high-resolution grating spectrometers. The OCO satellite is to be launched on a dedicated Taurus XL (the first stage is based on a Peacekeeper intercontinental ballistic missile). It is a 705km high, polar orbiting sun-synchronous satellite and has a ground pass repeat of 16 days. Carbon dioxide measurements will be made at regular times during the day to ensure consistent daily and seasonal observations.
NASA JPL OCO information at: http://science.jpl.nasa.gov/projects/OCO/
Trevor Williams is a University of Victoria Mechanical Engineering PhD candidate specialising in renewable energy, power grid modelling and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles. He has a bachelors in Aeronautical Engineering, a Masters in Management Science and over 23 years international experience in the space industry, having worked on Earth observation and telecommunications satellites.
Show/Hide comment form
