1. United States
2. Tenn.
3. Letter

The data gathered by the Orbiting Carbon Observatory missions is invaluable for understanding and monitoring climate change, plant growth, and crop yields around the world. Terminating these missions would waste the $750 million already invested in developing and launching this state-of-the-art technology. The annual $15 million cost to maintain the satellites is a small fraction compared to their scientific value. Continuing these missions allows researchers, farmers, and decision-makers access to crucial data for predicting droughts, political instability driven by crop failures, forest health, and more. Rather than destroying functional satellites providing essential environmental insights, we should prioritize funding their continued operation to advance scientific understanding and agricultural productivity for the nation's benefit.