Orbiting Carbon Observatory Mishap Report Released

Written by
Charlene Anderson
July 21, 2009
by Charlene Anderson
The Orbiting Carbon Observatory (OCO), a NASA satellite that was to have monitored the sources and sinks of carbon in Earth’s atmosphere, never reached orbit after its launch vehicle failed. NASA has released the official report on the “mishap.”
The fairing that protected the satellite from the effects of traveling through the atmosphere at launch speeds failed to release OCO, sending it on to destruction. A summary report of the investigation board’s findings is available at: http://www.nasa.gov/oco
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