NASA satellite that scientists and farmers rely on may be destroyed on purpose
18 days ago
- #satellite missions
- #NASA
- #climate change
- The Trump administration has requested NASA to draft plans to terminate two major satellite missions, the Orbiting Carbon Observatories (OCO), which monitor greenhouse gases.
- These missions provide critical data on carbon dioxide and plant growth, used by scientists, farmers, and industries, and are the only U.S. satellites designed specifically for greenhouse gas monitoring.
- NASA employees have been instructed to create 'Phase F' termination plans, with one satellite potentially burning up in the atmosphere if the mission is ended.
- Congress has funded these missions through FY 2025, but their future remains uncertain as the administration pushes for budget cuts.
- The data from these satellites has revolutionized climate science, revealing unexpected insights into carbon absorption and plant growth, with applications in agriculture and national security.
- Terminating the missions would cost about $15 million annually to maintain, compared to the $750 million already invested in their development and launch.
- NASA is considering privatizing some missions, raising concerns about the role of public funding in maintaining critical Earth observation data.
- Congressional Democrats have warned against terminating missions funded by Congress, calling such actions illegal and harmful to climate and weather forecasting capabilities.