VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. – Ken Jucks, Orbiting Carbon Observatory-2 project executive at NASA Headquarters, participates in a mission science briefing at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California prior to the launch of the observatory, or OCO-2. Launch aboard a United Launch Alliance Delta II rocket from Space Launch Complex 2 is scheduled for 5:56 a.m. EDT on July 1. OCO-2 is NASA’s first mission dedicated to studying atmospheric carbon dioxide, the leading human-produced greenhouse gas driving changes in Earth’s climate. OCO-2 will provide a new tool for understanding the human and natural sources of carbon dioxide emissions and the natural "sinks" that absorb carbon dioxide and help control its buildup. The observatory will measure the global geographic distribution of these sources and sinks and study their changes over time. To learn more about OCO-2, visit http://www.nasa.gov/oco2. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. – From left, Ken Jucks, Orbiting Carbon Observatory-2, or OCO-2, project executive at NASA Headquarters David Crisp, OCO-2 science team leader at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, or JPL and Annmarie Eldering, OCO-2 deputy project scientist at JPL, participate in a mission science briefing at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California prior to the launch of the observatory. Launch aboard a United Launch Alliance Delta II rocket from Space Launch Complex 2 is scheduled for 5:56 a.m. EDT on July 1. OCO-2 is NASA’s first mission dedicated to studying atmospheric carbon dioxide, the leading human-produced greenhouse gas driving changes in Earth’s climate. OCO-2 will provide a new tool for understanding the human and natural sources of carbon dioxide emissions and the natural "sinks" that absorb carbon dioxide and help control its buildup. The observatory will measure the global geographic distribution of these sources and sinks and study their changes over time. To learn more about OCO-2, visit http://www.nasa.gov/oco2. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. – David Crisp, Orbiting Carbon Observatory-2 science team leader at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, participates in a mission science briefing at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California prior to the launch of the observatory, or OCO-2. Launch aboard a United Launch Alliance Delta II rocket from Space Launch Complex 2 is scheduled for 5:56 a.m. EDT on July 1. OCO-2 is NASA’s first mission dedicated to studying atmospheric carbon dioxide, the leading human-produced greenhouse gas driving changes in Earth’s climate. OCO-2 will provide a new tool for understanding the human and natural sources of carbon dioxide emissions and the natural "sinks" that absorb carbon dioxide and help control its buildup. The observatory will measure the global geographic distribution of these sources and sinks and study their changes over time. To learn more about OCO-2, visit http://www.nasa.gov/oco2. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. – From left, David Crisp, Orbiting Carbon Observatory-2, or OCO-2, science team leader at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, or JPL, and Annmarie Eldering, OCO-2 deputy project scientist at JPL, participate in a mission science briefing at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California prior to the launch of the observatory. Launch aboard a United Launch Alliance Delta II rocket from Space Launch Complex 2 is scheduled for 5:56 a.m. EDT on July 1. OCO-2 is NASA’s first mission dedicated to studying atmospheric carbon dioxide, the leading human-produced greenhouse gas driving changes in Earth’s climate. OCO-2 will provide a new tool for understanding the human and natural sources of carbon dioxide emissions and the natural "sinks" that absorb carbon dioxide and help control its buildup. The observatory will measure the global geographic distribution of these sources and sinks and study their changes over time. To learn more about OCO-2, visit http://www.nasa.gov/oco2. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. – From left, George Diller, NASA Public Affairs Ken Jucks, Orbiting Carbon Observatory-2, or OCO-2, project executive at NASA Headquarters David Crisp, OCO-2 science team leader at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, or JPL and Annmarie Eldering, OCO-2 deputy project scientist at JPL, participate in a mission science briefing at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California prior to the launch of the observatory. Launch aboard a United Launch Alliance Delta II rocket from Space Launch Complex 2 is scheduled for 5:56 a.m. EDT on July 1. OCO-2 is NASA’s first mission dedicated to studying atmospheric carbon dioxide, the leading human-produced greenhouse gas driving changes in Earth’s climate. OCO-2 will provide a new tool for understanding the human and natural sources of carbon dioxide emissions and the natural "sinks" that absorb carbon dioxide and help control its buildup. The observatory will measure the global geographic distribution of these sources and sinks and study their changes over time. To learn more about OCO-2, visit http://www.nasa.gov/oco2. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. – Annmarie Eldering, Orbiting Carbon Observatory-2 deputy project scientist at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, participates in a mission science briefing at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California prior to the launch of the observatory, or OCO-2. Launch aboard a United Launch Alliance Delta II rocket from Space Launch Complex 2 is scheduled for 5:56 a.m. EDT on July 1. OCO-2 is NASA’s first mission dedicated to studying atmospheric carbon dioxide, the leading human-produced greenhouse gas driving changes in Earth’s climate. OCO-2 will provide a new tool for understanding the human and natural sources of carbon dioxide emissions and the natural "sinks" that absorb carbon dioxide and help control its buildup. The observatory will measure the global geographic distribution of these sources and sinks and study their changes over time. To learn more about OCO-2, visit http://www.nasa.gov/oco2. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. – Ken Jucks, Orbiting Carbon Observatory-2 project executive at NASA Headquarters, participates in a mission science briefing at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California prior to the launch of the observatory, or OCO-2. Launch aboard a United Launch Alliance Delta II rocket from Space Launch Complex 2 is scheduled for 5:56 a.m. EDT on July 1. OCO-2 is NASA’s first mission dedicated to studying atmospheric carbon dioxide, the leading human-produced greenhouse gas driving changes in Earth’s climate. OCO-2 will provide a new tool for understanding the human and natural sources of carbon dioxide emissions and the natural "sinks" that absorb carbon dioxide and help control its buildup. The observatory will measure the global geographic distribution of these sources and sinks and study their changes over time. To learn more about OCO-2, visit http://www.nasa.gov/oco2. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- Participants in the prelaunch news conference at Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif., for NASA’s National Polar-orbiting Operational Environmental Satellite System Preparatory Project (NPP) spacecraft prepare to address members of the news media gathered at Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif. NPP represents a critical first step in building the next-generation of Earth-observing satellites. NPP will carry the first of the new sensors developed for this satellite fleet, now known as the Joint Polar Satellite System (JPSS), to be launched in 2016. NPP is the bridge between NASA's Earth Observing System (EOS) satellites and the forthcoming series of JPSS satellites. The mission will test key technologies and instruments for the JPSS missions. NPP is targeted to launch Oct. 28 from Space Launch Complex-2 aboard a United Launch Alliance Delta II rocket. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/NPP. Photo credit: NASA/VAFB

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- Participants in the prelaunch news conference for NASA’s National Polar-orbiting Operational Environmental Satellite System Preparatory Project (NPP) spacecraft prepare to address members of the news media gathered at Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif. Panelists are, from left, George Diller, NASA launch commentator, Andrew Carson, NPP program executive, NASA Headquarters, Tim Dunn, NASA launch director, Kennedy Space Center, Vernon Thorp, program manager, NASA missions, United Launch Alliance, Ken Schwer, NPP project manager, Goddard Space Flight Center, and 2nd Lt. Lisa Cochran, launch weather officer, 30th Operations Support Squadron, Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif. NPP represents a critical first step in building the next-generation of Earth-observing satellites. NPP will carry the first of the new sensors developed for this satellite fleet, now known as the Joint Polar Satellite System (JPSS), to be launched in 2016. NPP is the bridge between NASA's Earth Observing System (EOS) satellites and the forthcoming series of JPSS satellites. The mission will test key technologies and instruments for the JPSS missions. NPP is targeted to launch Oct. 28 from Space Launch Complex-2 aboard a United Launch Alliance Delta II rocket. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/NPP. Photo credit: NASA/VAFB