Published by Rosalind on 23 Feb 2009 at 08:23 pm
Orbiting Carbon Observatory launches this week
NASA is launching a new satellite designed to study where the carbon dioxide in the atmosphere ends up. The Orbiting Carbon Observatory will measure both CO2 and oxygen in earth’s atmosphere using an instrument with three spectrometers. The Observatory will orbit in a 438-mile-high polar orbit. Scientists hope to use the satellite to measure emissions from industry and other human activities, and to investigate carbon sinks – areas which naturally absorb carbon dioxide, such as the oceans. Read the story here: Satellite.