NASA Aura launch and mission science objectives

Aura (Latin for breeze) was launched July 15, 2004. It is the third and last of the large NASA Earth Observing System (EOS) satellites, a program dedicated to monitoring the complex interactions that affect the globe using NASA satellites and data systems. The design life is five years with an operational goal of six years.

Aura's Instruments are the Microwave Limb Sounder (MLS) that looks out from the front of the satellite (shown by a green beam), the Dutch/Finnish Ozone Monitoring Instrument (OMI) that looks down and takes pictures in visible and ultraviolet light (shown as a blue swath), the Tropospheric Emission Spectrometer (TES) that can look down or to the side (shown as the red beam), and the HIgh Resolution Dynamics Limb Sounder (HIRDLS) that looks off to the side (shown as the yellow beam).

These instruments contain advanced technologies that have been developed for use on environmental satellites. Each instrument provides unique and complementary capabilities that will enable daily global observations of Earth's atmospheric ozone layer, air quality, and key climate parameters.

Aura is the caboose of the A-train constellation of satellites flying in formation. Aura originally was about 15 minutes behind the EOS Aqua satellite. It has now been moved up in the formation and is approximately seven minutes behind Aqua. Currently in between Aqua and Aura are the CloudSat, CALIPSO, and PARASOL satellites. These satellites are in polar orbits with an equator crossing time near 1:30 local time.

Aura's four instruments study the atmosphere's chemistry and dynamics. Aura's measurements will enable us to investigate questions about ozone trends, air quality changes and their linkage to climate change.

Aura's measurements also provide accurate data for predictive models and provide useful information for local and national agency decision support systems.

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Tags:

• NASA
• Earth
• Observing
• System
• satellite
• Aura
• launch
• A-train
• MLS
• OMI
• HIRDLS
• TES
• Climate
• Ozone
• Layer
• Aqua
• CloudSat