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NASA is planning to launch a 'first-of-its-kind' satellite on July 01 that will be dedicated to measuring atmospheric levels of carbon dioxide. According to the agency, the levels of CO2 have reached their highest point in at least 800,000 years. 

The satellite dubbed Orbiting Carbon Observatory-2 (OCO-2) would be very similar to its predecessor, OCO-1, which was destroyed during its launch in February 2009. 

"Carbon dioxide in the atmosphere plays a critical role in our planet's energy balance and is a key factor in understanding how our climate is changing," said Michael Freilich, director of NASA's Earth Science Division.

"With the OCO-2 mission, NASA will be contributing an important new source of global observations to the scientific challenge of better understanding our Earth and its future," he added in a statement.

The satellite is expected to provide a complete global picture of man-made and naturally occurring CO2 emissions. According to scientists, less than half of the CO2 emitted by human activities remains in the atmosphere. 

The OCO-2 will be launched on a United Launch Alliance Delta II rocket from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California, aiming for an orbit at 438 miles (705 kilometers) above the Earth's surface, nation.com reported.