Green Options

NASA’s Carbon Observatory that failed to reach orbit on Tuesday would’ve provided the first complete picture of CO2 sources and their sinks. Scientists must now reassess their strategy.

Yesterday, NASA’s first spacecraft built to study carbon dioxide arrived at its California launch site. After completing final tests, the Orbiting Carbon Observatory will lift off in January 2009. Scientists hope that the observatory’s launch will give us a better understanding of carbon dioxide and Earth’s carbon cycle.