# Aura
*missions*

## Specifications
- **operator**: nasa
- **actual launch**: 2004-07-15
- **current status**: extended
- **orbit type**: Sun-synchronous near-polar orbit, 705 km altitude, 98.2 degree inclination, approximately 13:45 ascending equator crossing
- **revisit days**: 16
- **tasking supported**: false
- **archive depth years**: 21
- **current geographic priority**: Global atmospheric chemistry and air-quality observations
- **launch vehicle**: ula-delta-ii
- **entity type**: mission
- **last verified date**: 2026-06-14
- **verified by**: agency-doc
- **claim status**: agency-sourced
- **provider**: nasa
- **attributes**: {"operator":"nasa","actual_launch":"2004-07-15","current_status":"extended","orbit_type":"Sun-synchronous near-polar orbit, 705 km altitude, 98.2 degree inclination, approximately 13:45 ascending equator crossing","revisit_days":16,"tasking_supported":false,"archive_depth_years":21,"current_geographic_priority":"Global atmospheric chemistry and air-quality observations","launch_vehicle":"ula-delta-ii"}
- **relevance**: in-scope

## Editorial
Aura is a NASA Earth observation mission for atmospheric chemistry and air-quality measurements. The spacecraft launched on 2004-07-15 and remains in extended operation as of 2026-06-14.[^nasa-science-aura][^nasa-earthdata-aura] Aura flies in a sun-synchronous near-polar orbit at about 705 km altitude, 98.2 degree inclination, and a 13:45 ascending equator crossing, with a 16-day repeat cycle.[^nasa-about-aura][^wmo-oscar-aura]

The mission carries HIRDLS, MLS, OMI, and TES for trace-gas and atmospheric observations.[^nasa-earthdata-aura][^wmo-oscar-aura] It is designed for systematic atmospheric monitoring rather than commercial tasking, with an archive depth of about 21 years and worldwide air-quality and chemistry coverage in the D1 mission record.[^nasa-earthdata-aura]

## Compositional position
- Aura --[mission_payloads]--> omi (products)
- Aura --[mission_payloads]--> mls (products)

## Sources
- [nasa-science-aura] | Aura mission overview, NASA Science | https://science.nasa.gov/mission/aura/ | tier=agency-doc | accessed=2026-06-14
- [nasa-about-aura] | About Aura, NASA Science | https://science.nasa.gov/mission/aura/about-aura/ | tier=agency-doc | accessed=2026-06-14
- [nasa-earthdata-aura] | Aura platform, NASA Earthdata | https://www.earthdata.nasa.gov/data/platforms/space-based-platforms/aura | tier=agency-doc | accessed=2026-06-14
- [wmo-oscar-aura] | Satellite: Aura, WMO OSCAR | https://space.oscar.wmo.int/satellites/view/aura | tier=community | accessed=2026-06-14

---
Source: https://eo-atlas.org/missions/aura
Maintainer: SpectraWorks B.V. (CC-BY 4.0)