Total Loss Redundancy...

The rocket carrying NASA's Orbiting Carbon Observatory (OCO) suffered a technical glitch early this morning that caused the satellite to crash into the ocean near Antarctica.

In development for nine years, the observatory was meant to orbit Earth and monitor global carbon dioxide emissions.

Data from the satellite would have helped researchers better understand distribution of the greenhouse gas, possibly improving climate models. (Get the facts on global warming.)

NASA officials are now calling the $270-million mission a total loss.

"Certainly for the science community, it's a huge disappointment," Michael Freilich, director of NASA's Earth Science Division in Washington, D.C., said this morning at a briefing.

$270 Million in tax dollars desinigrated over Antarctica. Massive amounts of carbon dioxide were spewed into the atmosphere and stratosphere. That's a good day's work. Actually, it's a good nine year's work...and I'm not too terribly torn up about it.

Somewhere out there...James Hansen is upping his meds...and the world's temperatures...