cross-posted from: https://lemmy.zip/post/45614563

cross-posted from: https://hexbear.net/post/5763205

One is attached to the International Space Station, and the other is collecting data as a stand-alone satellite. The latter would meet its permanent demise after burning up in the atmosphere if the mission were to be terminated.

A 2023 review by NASA concluded that the data they’d been providing had been “of exceptionally high quality.”

The observatories provide detailed carbon dioxide measurements across various locations, allowing scientists to get a detailed glimpse of how human activity is affecting greenhouse gas emissions.

(Ex NASA employee) David Crisp said it “makes no economic sense to terminate NASA missions that are returning incredibly valuable data,” pointing out it costs only $15 million per year to maintain both observatories, a tiny fraction of the agency’s $25.4 billion budget.

  • PancakesCantKillMe@lemmy.world
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    4 days ago

    (Ex NASA employee) David Crisp said it “makes no economic sense to terminate NASA missions that are returning incredibly valuable data,”

    Yes, but it makes perfect sabotage sense from a saboteur’s perspective.

    • AA5B@lemmy.world
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      3 days ago

      It makes no economic sense if you value science and the contribution it makes to our economy, our society, our future.

      But science has no political loyalty

    • NJSpradlin@lemmy.world
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      4 days ago

      Democracies, that haven’t fallen, across the world will still collect this data, or build up to the point of being able to. Which means, the US plans to suppress those countries’ news and data too. Or, in other words, lock down the internet for their population like China does.

        • NJSpradlin@lemmy.world
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          3 days ago

          That’s not to say China and Russia won’t continue their cyber and political warfare against everyone on the outside. The US is currently openly fighting to undermine trans rights globally, while fighting gay rights behind closed doors (funding anti-gay rights groups in Africa).