In support for that mission, NASA will launch tomorrow the Orbiting Carbon Observatory from the Vandenberg Air Force Base in California. The spacecraft will attempt to map the global distribution of carbon dioxide sources, in addition to gathering data on atmospheric carbon dioxide and carbon dioxide cycle.

 

NASA revealed that these observations will help scientists make more accurate predictions on future carbon dioxide increases, as well as help them better understand how these processes work, and how much time we have left to adapt to climate change.

 

Michael Freilich, director of NASA’s Earth Science Division in Washington, said about the Orbiting Carbon Observatory that it will be crucial in advancing the knowledge on all Earth system land, atmosphere and ocean processes, which will redefine our knowledge on climate forcings and Earth’s response processes.

 

The spacecraft will use three high-resolution spectrometers to detect light with the specific colors absorbed by carbon dioxide and molecular oxygen (less carbon dioxide also means less light to detect), NASA explained.

 

The agency reported that the spacecraft’s upper stack, which consists of the payload’s protective fairing and Stages 1,2 and 3, has already been installed. The Orbiting Carbon Observatory is now ready for launch, which will take place on Feb. 24 at 1:51 a.m. PST (4:51 a.m. EST).