NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Artist's Concept of Aura

Artist's concept of Aura

Microwave limb sounder Microwave Limb Sounder

Overview:
This instrument is designed to improve our understanding of ozone in Earth's stratosphere, especially how ozone is depleted by processes of chlorine chemistry. The instrument measures naturally occurring microwave thermal emission from the limb of Earth's atmosphere to remotely sense vertical profiles of selected atmospheric gases, temperature and pressure.

The instrument flies aboard NASA's Aura spacecraft under the agency's Earth Observing System program. The Microwave Limb Sounder is designed and built by JPL. NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center manages the Aura mission.

Mission Details:
Purpose: Instrument studying Earth's atmosphere

Fast Facts:
Launch: July 15, 2004

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Related News and Features:
+ Fact Sheet (PDF)
+ MLS home page
+ Aura home page