Why a NASA satellite that scientists and farmers rely on may be destroyed on purpose
Briefly

The Trump administration is directing NASA employees to prepare plans for terminating two significant satellite missions designed to monitor greenhouse gases. These missions provide critical data for scientists and industries, including oil and gas and agriculture. One mission would be permanently lost if terminated, as the satellite would burn up upon re-entry. Both missions measured carbon dioxide and plant growth globally, utilizing advanced technology. Despite NASA's 2023 review recommending continuation due to high data quality, plans for termination are in development, indicating a substantial shift in agency focus.
NASA employees are preparing plans to terminate two critical satellite missions monitoring greenhouse gases, which provide valuable data to various sectors, including agriculture and science.
The two missions, essential for tracking carbon dioxide and plant health, are the only federal operations specifically designed for this purpose and were found to have exceptionally high-quality data.
An official NASA review recommended extending these missions for at least three years, highlighting their state-of-the-art equipment and ongoing functionality in space.
Phase F plans are being developed to outline termination options for the missions, and employees have reached out for technical expertise amid these changes.
Read at www.npr.org
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