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Orbiting Carbon Observatory 3 (ISS-OCO-3)
Status:
Current, Extended Mission
Mission Category:
Earth System Science Pathfinder Program, Other
Launch Date: May 4, 2019
The third Orbiting Carbon Observatory (OCO-3) is a future space instrument designed to investigate important questions about the distribution of carbon dioxide on Earth as it relates to growing urban populations and changing patterns of fossil fuel combustion. NASA plans to develop and assemble the instrument using spare materials from the successful development and launch of the Orbiting Carbon Observatory 2 in 2014 and host the instrument on the International Space Station (ISS) for location on the Japanese Experiment Module Exposed Facility (JEM-EF).
Key Orbiting Carbon Observatory 3 Facts
| Altitude:Distance from sea level. | 400km |
|---|---|
| Inclination: | 51.6° |
| Origination: | NASA |
| Instruments: |
Grating spectrometers |