NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration

The Orbiting Carbon Observatory at lift-off. A few minutes later, a contingency was declared.

This is an artist's concept of the Orbiting Carbon Observatory.

This is an artist's concept of the Orbiting Carbon Observatory.

The Keeling Curve is a scientific icon that is, to some scientists, as famous as the double helix and E=mc2.

Every year human activity is responsible for releasing approximately eight billion metric tons of carbon into the atmosphere.

This animation gives an overview of NASA's Orbiting Carbon Observatory.

This animation shows NASA's Orbiting Carbon Observatory over Earth.

This animation shows NASA's Orbiting Carbon Observatory using its instruments to study Earth.

This animation shows NASA's Orbiting Carbon Observatory using its instruments to study Earth.