NASA gets that sinking feeling

A NASA satellite designed to measure CO2 levels in such detail that it could locate carbon sinks and sources has failed to reach orbit after it was launched this morning.

The latest news suggests that the moulded structure that encapsulates the satellite while it's travelling through the atmosphere (called a fairing) didn't fall off like it should have. The extra weight of the fairing still on the rocket meant that it didn't have enough power to get into orbit and instead it crashed into the ocean off Antarctica.

The Orbiting Carbon Observatory (OCO) had been eight years in the planning and was considered a vital step in learning more about the carbon cycle and how it may be affected by climate change.

It's not yet known whether a new OCO will be built but I'm sure NASA would ensure the new OCO will find the sinks rather than doing the sinking itself!

Image: NASA TV