The Earth Science Enterprise of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration will sponsor the OCO project through the Earth System Science Pathfinder Project (ESSP) office. The Observatory will be a component of the standards and practices of the Earth Observing System (EOS). The mission will thus gain the advantage of working with other earth observing missions aboard the Aura and Aqua spacecraft. To enhance scientists ability to assimilate data, the OCO spacecraft will fly in the A-train. The Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) at the California Institute of Technology will manage the OCO Project. Hamilton Sundstrand Sensor Systems and Orbital Sciences Corporation will partner with JPL in the project effort. The Raytheon Corporation will contribute to the development of the OCO Ground Data System. |