Failed Launch Puts NASA Satellite In Ocean

NPR | By Richard Harris,

Renee Montagne

Published February 24, 2009 at 9:48 AM EST

A rocket carrying a NASA satellite meant to track global warming has landed in the ocean near Antarctica after a failed launch.

The rocket with the Orbiting Carbon Observatory lifted off Tuesday morning from California's Vandenberg Air Force Base, but a protective covering apparently failed to separate.

The observatory was to be NASA's first satellite dedicated to monitoring carbon dioxide on a global scale. A similar Japanese satellite is already in orbit.

Richard Harris

Award-winning journalist Richard Harris has reported on a wide range of topics in science, medicine and the environment since he joined NPR in 1986. In early 2014, his focus shifted from an emphasis on climate change and the environment to biomedical research.

See stories by Richard Harris

Renee Montagne

Renee Montagne, one of the best-known names in public radio, was reporter, host, and correspondent for NPR for over 40 years.

See stories by Renee Montagne

Federal funding is gone.

Congress has eliminated all funding for public media.

That means $2.1 million per year that Connecticut Public relied on to deliver you news, information, and entertainment programs you enjoyed is gone.

The future of public media is in your hands.

All donations are appreciated, but we ask in this moment you consider starting a monthly gift as a Sustainer to help replace what’s been lost.

Donate

SOMOS CONNECTICUT is an initiative from Connecticut Public, the state’s local NPR and PBS station, to elevate Latino stories and expand programming that uplifts and informs our Latino communities. Visit CTPublic.org/latino for more stories and resources. For updates, sign up for the SOMOS CONNECTICUT newsletter at ctpublic.org/newsletters.

SOMOS CONNECTICUT es una iniciativa de Connecticut Public, la emisora local de NPR y PBS del estado, que busca elevar nuestras historias latinas y expandir programación que alza y informa nuestras comunidades latinas locales. Visita CTPublic.org/latino para más reportajes y recursos. Para noticias, suscríbase a nuestro boletín informativo en ctpublic.org/newsletters.

Federal funding is gone.

Donate