Aura
Aura is NASA's atmospheric-chemistry mission measuring ozone, trace gases and aerosols. Its Microwave Limb Sounder and Ozone Monitoring Instrument support research on ozone recovery, air quality and atmospheric change. Orbit-maintenance maneuvers ended in 2023, allowing altitude and local observation time to drift; instrument teams account for these changes in retrievals. Daily yaw maneuvers began in July 2026 to restore OMI solar-aperture alignment for calibration. NASA's September 2026 assessment reports good spacecraft and instrument health; projected power limitations around mid-2028 are estimates rather than a confirmed mission end date.
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Identity
- Aliases
- AuraEOS Chem-1Earth Observing System Chem-1
- Name
- Aura
- Status
- active
Details
- Astronauts
- -
- Description
- Aura is NASA's atmospheric-chemistry mission measuring ozone, trace gases and aerosols. Its Microwave Limb Sounder and Ozone Monitoring Instrument support research on ozone recovery, air quality and atmospheric change. Orbit-maintenance maneuvers ended in 2023, allowing altitude and local observation time to drift; instrument teams account for these changes in retrievals. Daily yaw maneuvers began in July 2026 to restore OMI solar-aperture alignment for calibration. NASA's September 2026 assessment reports good spacecraft and instrument health; projected power limitations around mid-2028 are estimates rather than a confirmed mission end date.
- Destination
- Near-polar, sun-synchronous Earth orbit at approximately 705 km altitude and 98.2° inclination for measuring ozone, aerosols, and key trace gases throughout Earth’s atmosphere
- Launch Site
- Outcome
- Launched July 15, 2004, Aura provides atmospheric-composition observations that improve understanding of ozone, air quality and climate processes.
- Programs
- Start Date
- 2004-07-15
- Vehicle Families
Links
- Official Url
- https://science.nasa.gov/mission/aura/
Assets & Meta
- Creation Time
- August 14, 2026 at 19:22:47 UTC
- Updated Time
- October 29, 2026 at 15:13:03 UTC
Other
- Affiliations
- Space Stations
- -
- Vehicles