Recent
developments indicate the Trump administration has instructed NASA to
terminate two operational, climate-focused satellite missions known as
the Orbiting Carbon Observatories (OCO), prompting scientists to voice
concerns over the loss of valuable data
. If these orders are carried out, one of the satellites would be abandoned and eventually burn up in Earth's atmosphere. This
is an unusual scenario, as satellite deorbiting is a normal procedure
for obsolete or malfunctioning spacecraft. However, with the OCO
satellites, the motivation appears to be political rather than
technical.
Standard practice: When satellites crash
Typically,
when a satellite reaches the end of its life, it is intentionally
crashed or otherwise disposed of in a process that is carefully managed
by space agencies.
- Obsolete or malfunctioning hardware: Satellites have a limited lifespan due to factors such as running out of fuel or experiencing equipment failure. When a satellite can no longer function, it must be disposed of to avoid becoming a piece of space junk.
- Preventing space debris: Abandoned satellites pose a significant threat of orbital collisions, which can create thousands of pieces of fast-moving debris. To prevent this, satellites in lower orbits are intentionally deorbited so they burn up safely in the atmosphere over an unpopulated area.
- Controlled vs. uncontrolled reentry:
- Controlled reentries are the preferred method for larger satellites, as operators can steer the spacecraft toward a remote "graveyard" in the Pacific Ocean to ensure any surviving debris doesn't harm populated areas.
- Uncontrolled reentries happen when a satellite's mission ends without enough fuel or functioning controls to guide its descent, forcing it to fall to Earth naturally from atmospheric drag.
The OCO satellites: A politically-charged case
The
recent controversy involves the Orbiting Carbon Observatories (OCO)
missions, which have been collecting high-quality data on atmospheric
carbon dioxide.
- Operating status: Unlike typical deorbited satellites, the OCO missions are not at the end of their lives. A 2023 review from NASA found their data to be "exceptionally high quality" and recommended continued operation.
- Political motivation: The instruction from the White House comes amid budget proposals that would significantly cut federal climate science spending. Critics and scientists point to the administration's pattern of downplaying climate change as a likely factor for wanting to end the missions prematurely.
- Consequences of termination: If the OCO missions are shut down, the valuable, long-term climate data they provide will be lost. One of the satellites would be allowed to burn up in the atmosphere, representing a premature loss of a functional, state-of-the-art instrument.
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