NASA’s OCO Malfunction
21/02/09 00:17
By Angelica Guevara
NASA’s first mission to measure CO2 in the earth’s atmosphere failed when a part of the rocket failed to separate properly making the rocket too heavy to act against gravity and go into orbit.
The Orbiting Carbon Observatory (OCO) was intended to help pinpoint the key locations on our planet's surface where CO2 is being emitted and absorbed. John Brunschwyler, from Orbital Sciences Corporation, the rocket's manufacturer, stated: "Our whole team, at a very personal level, is very disappointed in the events of this morning." adding, "The fairing has considerable weight relative to the portion of the vehicle that's flying. So when it separates off, you get a jump in acceleration. We did not have that jump in acceleration.... Read More...
NASA’s first mission to measure CO2 in the earth’s atmosphere failed when a part of the rocket failed to separate properly making the rocket too heavy to act against gravity and go into orbit.
The Orbiting Carbon Observatory (OCO) was intended to help pinpoint the key locations on our planet's surface where CO2 is being emitted and absorbed. John Brunschwyler, from Orbital Sciences Corporation, the rocket's manufacturer, stated: "Our whole team, at a very personal level, is very disappointed in the events of this morning." adding, "The fairing has considerable weight relative to the portion of the vehicle that's flying. So when it separates off, you get a jump in acceleration. We did not have that jump in acceleration.... Read More...