Aura (satellite)
Aura (EOS CH-1) is a multi-national NASA scientific research satellite in orbit around the Earth, studying the Earth's ozone layer, air quality and climate. It is the third major component of the Earth Observing System (EOS) following on Terra (launched 1999) and Aqua (launched 2002). Aura follows on from the Upper Atmosphere Research Satellite (UARS). Aura is a joint mission between NASA, the Netherlands, Finland, and the U.K. The Aura spacecraft is healthy and is expected to operate until at least 2023, likely beyond.
Aura (EOS CH-1) | |
| Mission type | Earth Observation |
|---|---|
| Operator | NASA |
| COSPAR ID | 2004-026A |
| SATCAT no. | 28376 |
| Website | aura.gsfc.nasa.gov |
| Mission duration | 19 years, 8 months, 25 days (elapsed) |
| Spacecraft properties | |
| Bus | T330 (AB-1200) |
| Manufacturer | Northrop Grumman |
| Launch mass | 2,970 kilograms (6,550 lb) |
| Dimensions | 4.70 m x 17.37 m x 6.91 m |
| Power | 4.6 kW |
| Start of mission | |
| Launch date | July 15, 2004, 10:01:51 UTC |
| Rocket | Delta II 7920-10L |
| Launch site | Vandenberg SLC-2W |
| End of mission | |
| Last contact | 2036 (planned) |
| Decay date | 2048 (planned) |
| Orbital parameters | |
| Reference system | Geocentric |
| Regime | Sun-synchronous |
| Semi-major axis | 7,080.7 kilometers (4,399.7 mi) |
| Eccentricity | 0.0001111 |
| Perigee altitude | 708 kilometers (440 mi) |
| Apogee altitude | 710 kilometers (440 mi) |
| Inclination | 98.22 degrees |
| Period | 98.83 minutes |
| RAAN | 96.8126 degrees |
| Argument of perigee | 89.5089 degrees |
| Mean anomaly | 270.6277 degrees |
| Mean motion | 14.57112850 |
| Epoch | 25 January 2015, 03:15:27 UTC |
The name "Aura" comes from the Latin word for air. The satellite was launched from Vandenberg Air Force Base on July 15, 2004, aboard a Delta II 7920-10L rocket.
The Aura spacecraft has a mass of about 1,765 kg (3,891 lb). The body is 6.9 m (23 ft) long with the extended single solar panel about 15 m (49 ft) long.
Aura flies in a Sun-synchronous orbit, in formation with three other satellites, collectively known as the "A Train"; it is last in the formation. The other satellites in the formation are:
All satellites have an equatorial crossing time at about 1:30 in the afternoon, thus the name 'A (Afternoon) Train'.