Orbiting Carbon Observatory (OCO) launch pad preparations,at Launch Complex 576-E at Vandenberg Air Force Base,California,USA. Engineers are making final checks on the satellite,housed in the faring at the top of the rocket. A NASA mission,the OCO was designed to make global measurements of levels of the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide,helping to improve studies on global warming and other aspects of climate change. The OCO was launched on 24 February 2010 from Vandenberg Air Force Base,California,USA. The faring failed to separate properly,and the satellite was lost |