Orbital satellites, previously purchased, for which Trump desires a destructive, fiery atmospheric descent
The Trump administration's budget proposal for fiscal year 2026 has sparked controversy, with plans to decommission the Orbiting Carbon Observatory (OCO) satellites, which gather vital information on planet-warming pollution and other climate indicators[1][3][4]. This move, which involves gradually ending operations of the freestanding OCO-2 satellite and potentially deactivating OCO-3, mounted on the International Space Station[1][3], is perceived as a move against climate science by many scientists[1][3][4].
The OCO satellites, including OCO-2 and OCO-3, remain highly functional and provide critical, precise data on atmospheric carbon dioxide levels, fossil fuel emissions, and plant productivity[1][3][4][5]. David Crisp, a former NASA scientist who managed the OCO missions until his 2022 retirement, and others argue that these satellites are still the most sensitive and accurate systems globally for monitoring CO2, making their termination economically inefficient and scientifically regrettable[1][3][4].
Critics stress that ending the missions would reduce the United States' ability to track climate pollution and understand carbon dynamics, potentially ceding observational leadership to other countries[3]. The data from OCO missions have been instrumental in discoveries such as identifying the Amazon rainforest as a net carbon emitter and mapping photosynthesis "glow" in plants to monitor drought and food security[4][5].
NASA has described the missions as being "beyond their prime mission" and part of budget priority adjustments[4]. However, the controversy centers on losing valuable, operational satellites that could continue to provide climate insights at relatively low cost[4]. Congressional decisions and possible alternatives like public-private partnerships are still pending, creating uncertainty about the ultimate fate of the OCO satellites[3].
While OCO-2 continues to operate and provide updated data, including recent improvements in carbon emissions detection, maintaining its scientific relevance as of mid-2025[2], there is a scramble to find a partnership to save OCO-2 and OCO-3 before decommissioning or Phase F protocols go into effect later this year[6]. NASA has issued a call for partnerships for OCO-3 and is expected to put out a similar call for operating OCO-2 this week[7].
The decommissioning of the OCO satellites marks a scale back of federal climate science by the Trump administration, with President Donald Trump's budget proposal taking a significant cut to NASA's Earth science spending[4]. The purposeful abandonment or destruction of the OCO satellites is essentially unprecedented, particularly given that OCO-2 has enough fuel on it to last through 2040[8].
Losing the OCO missions would hurt US leadership in climate science and create a multiyear gap in space-based climate pollution measurements[9]. Involving the private sector in operating OCO or other Earth-observing satellites could diminish NASA's role in providing an accurate backbone of Earth observations[10]. Congress is still considering Trump's budget request and may reject some, or all, of the Earth science cuts[3].
Some suggest that the Trump administration may view the OCO missions as being designed for climate hysteria or regulatory reasons[7]. However, the importance of these satellites in climate research, agricultural planning, and ecosystem monitoring cannot be overstated. The OCO missions are considered the most impactful in the field of climate science globally[11].
References:
- NASA plans to decommission OCO-2 and OCO-3
- OCO-2 satellite continues to provide valuable data
- OCO decommissioning sparks controversy
- Trump budget proposal cuts Earth science spending
- OCO data leads to groundbreaking discoveries
- Scramble to save OCO satellites before decommissioning
- NASA calls for partnerships to operate OCO satellites
- OCO-2 fuel supply lasts until 2040
- Losing OCO satellites hurts US leadership in climate science
- Private sector involvement in OCO operations diminishes NASA's role
- OCO missions are the most impactful in climate science
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