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NASA's New Carbon-Counting Instrument Leaves the Nest
05.10.12--NASA’s first mission dedicated to studying atmospheric carbon dioxide moves a step closer to reality with the shipment of its JPL-built science instrument.
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Orbiting Carbon Observatory Mishap Investigation Results
The OCO mission was lost in a launch failure when the payload fairing of the Taurus launch vehicle failed to separate during ascent.
› Executive Summary (50 Kb PDF)
› News release: NASA Releases Accident Summary
Future Atmospheric Carbon Dioxide Observations
NASA has released a document describing the scientific need for observations from a potential OCO reflight mission.
› View PDF (6.33 MB)
Mission News
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NASA's New Carbon-Counting Instrument Leaves the Nest
NASA’s first mission dedicated to studying atmospheric carbon dioxide moves a step closer to reality with the shipment of its JPL-built science instrument.
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NASA Awards Launch Services Contract for OCO-2 Mission
NASA has selected Orbital Sciences Corp. of Dulles, Va., to launch the JPL-managed Orbiting Carbon Observatory-2 mission, planned for launch in February 2013.
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NASA Releases Orbiting Carbon Observatory Summary
A NASA panel that investigated the unsuccessful Feb. 24 launch of the Orbiting Carbon Observatory has completed its report.
Launch Video
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OCO Launch Contingency Briefing
A launch contingency briefing for the Orbiting Carbon Observatory was held on Feb. 24, 2009 at approximately 8:15 a.m. Eastern.
› View This Video -
OCO Spacecraft Fails to Reach Orbit
Launch contingency called.
› View This Video -
Taurus Launches with OCO Spacecraft
Rocket thunders skyward
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 "contingency briefing for Orbiting Carbon Observatory")
 "Launch Commentator George Diller")
 "Taurus launch")