Precision requirements are determined for space-based column-averaged CO₂ dry air mole fraction data. These requirements result from an assessment of spatial and temporal gradients in the relationship between precision and surface CO₂ flux uncertainties inferred from inversions of the data, and the effects of biases on the fidelity of CO₂ flux inversions. Observational system simulation experiments and synthesis inversion modeling demonstrate that the Orbiting Carbon Observatory mission design and sampling strategy provide the means to achieve these data precision requirements.