Orbital Sciences to Launch NASA’s OCO-2 Mission

[Satellite TODAY 06-24-10] NASA has selected Orbital Sciences to launch the Orbiting Carbon Observatory-2 (OCO-2) mission in February 2013 aboard a Taurus XL 3110 rocket from Vandenberg’s U.S. Air Force Base, Calif., the agency announced.
    The total value of the OCO-2 launch services contract is about $70 million. The estimated cost includes the task ordered launch service for a Taurus XL 3110 rocket, plus additional services under other contracts for payload processing, OCO-2 mission unique support, launch vehicle integration and tracking, data and telemetry support.
    NASA’s OCO-2 mission is dedicated to studying atmospheric carbon dioxide. The spacecraft aims to provide the first complete picture of human and natural carbon dioxide sources. The OCO-2 spacecraft will replace OCO-1, which was lost during a 2009 launch vehicle failure.