2009: Earth Science Satellite Launches Planned by NASA & ESA

In 2009 three key environmental data-collection satellites will be launched to enhance global climate change studies. The NASA Orbiting Carbon Observatory will launch in late February 23, 2009; NASA GLORYwill launch June 15, 2009; and, the European Space Agency CryoSat-2 will launch in November 2009.

The Orbiting Carbon Observatory will provide global space-based observations of atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2), the principal human-caused driver of climate change. The spacecraft is currently scheduled for launch no earlier than (NET) February 23, 2009.

NASA's GLORY satellite will collect data on the properties of aerosols and black carbon in the Earth's atmosphere and climate system. It will enable a greater understanding of the seasonal variability of aerosol properties following the planned June 15, 2009 launch.

The European Space Agency's CryoSat-2 will will monitor the thickness of land ice and sea ice and help explain the connection between the melting of the polar ice and the rise in sea levels and how this is contributing to climate change. The observations made during CryoSat's lifetime will determine whether or not Earth's ice masses are actually thinning in response to climate change folliwng the November 2009 launch campaign [Video] following the loss of CryoSat-1.