The Trump administration’s proposal to defund NASA’s Orbiting Carbon Observatory (OCO)-2 and OCO-3 missions has sparked strong concerns among scientists, lawmakers, and environmental advocates. These satellites provide the most precise global carbon dioxide measures ever obtained, helping experts monitor drought, assess crop health, and anticipate potential food shortages.
The Importance of OCO Missions
The OCO-2 and OCO-3 satellites are crucial for understanding the dynamics of greenhouse gas emissions and absorption. They have significantly advanced climate science by revealing the Amazon rainforest’s carbon emissions and boreal forests’ carbon absorption. The data collected by these satellites have revolutionized scientists’ understanding of how quickly CO2 is accumulating in the atmosphere ¹ ².
Impact of Defunding
Shutting down the OCO missions would cut off a unique source of environmental intelligence, degrading the nation’s ability to anticipate extreme weather events and respond to climate-driven disasters. The loss of these satellites would leave farmers, policymakers, and scientists without vital information for monitoring crop health and predicting food shortages.
Cost and Value
Operating both satellites costs approximately $15 million per year, a fraction of NASA’s $25.4 billion budget. The benefits of these missions far outweigh the expense, making the decision to terminate funding questionable from an economic standpoint ² ¹.
Potential Alternatives
Scientists are exploring backup plans, including reaching out to Japan, European partners, and private donors who might provide funding for the OCO-3 instrument on the International Space Station. However, handing control of U.S. satellites to foreign partners presents legal challenges, and transferring responsibility to private entities is generally considered inadequate ¹.
Legislative Pushback
Democratic members of Congress have warned Acting NASA Administrator Sean Duffy that terminating missions or impounding funds already appropriated by Congress would constitute an illegal act. Senator Chris Van Hollen has backed a counter-budget designed to maintain NASA’s scientific missions, while Representative Zoe Lofgren has raised legal concerns about canceling missions already funded in the fiscal year 2025 budget ¹.