The Orbiting Carbon Observatory (OCO-2) is scheduled to launch on July 1 from California's Vandenberg Air Force Base.
OCO-2 is NASA's first mission dedicated to studying atmospheric carbon dioxide, which is the leading human-produced greenhouse gas driving changes in Earth's climate.
Approximately 100,000 measurements of gas will be taken on a daily basis at specific locations around the world, according to the space agency. The observatory is expected to provide important information since the human use of fossil fuels is growing at a startling rate.
CO2 in the atmosphere has increased to 400 parts per million in 2014 from 280 ppm in 2013, since the start of the industrial revolution.
"If you visualize a column of air that stretches from Earth's surface to the top of the atmosphere, the Orbiting Carbon Observatory-2 will identify how much of that vertical column is carbon dioxide", said Gregg Marland, a professor in the Geology Department of Appalachian State University, Boone, North Carolina, according to NASA.
OCO-2 will complete its tasks like assessing where the fires are coming from and how big they are.
The OCO-2 will take pictures of sources and sinks of carbon dioxide. It won't have an impact on reducing climate change or greenhouse gases however.
It will help scientists to expand their knowledge base as to where atmospheric carbon is coming from, where the carbon sinks, and where it is actually building.
OCO-2 is a two-year project worth $465 million.
Project manager Ralph Basilo said it is important to understand the variability with regard to carbon dioxide being released to humans, and being observed by the ocean or plants.
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