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Tue, Feb 24, 2009

NASA's Carbon Observatory Fails To Reach Orbit

Fairing Did Not Separate As Intended

NASA’s Orbiting Carbon Observatory satellite failed to reach orbit after its 1:55 am PST liftoff Tuesday morning from California’s Vandenberg Air Force Base.

"We could not make orbit," NASA program manager John Brunschwyler told CNN in the minutes after launch. "Initial indications are the vehicle did not have enough [force] to reach orbit and landed just short of Antarctica in the ocean."

"Certainly for the science community, it's a huge disappointment." Preliminary indications are that the atmospheric fairing protecting the OCC atop the Taurus XL launch vehicle failed to separate.

Orbital Sciences Corp. built the OCO satellite for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). It was intended to collect and disseminate precise global measurements of carbon dioxide (CO2) concentrations in the Earth's atmosphere to scientists studying global climate change. The company also constructed the Taurus launch vehicle.

A Mishap Investigation Board is to determine the cause of the launch failure.

FMI: www.nasa.gov, www.orbital.com

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