NASA Carbon Monitoring Satellite Prepares for Launch

[Satellite Today 02-02-09] NASA‘s Orbiting Carbon Observatory, its first satellite dedicated to studying atmospheric carbon dioxide, is in final preparations for a Feb. 23 launch from Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif., the space agency announced Jan. 30
    The satellite is designed to provide the first complete picture of human and natural CO2 sources, as well as "sinks" — places where it is pulled from the atmosphere and stored, NASA said.
    The observatory will lead five other NASA satellites that cross the equator each day shortly after noon, making a broad range of nearly simultaneous Earth observations.