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MLS

Microwave Limb Sounder

Making up one piece of the most advanced and accurate atmospheric chemistry laboratory ever deployed in space, the Microwave Limb Sounder, or MLS, instrument flies aboard NASA's Aura Earth satellite with three other instruments.

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MLS Foreground

Mission Statistics

Launch Date

July 15, 2004

Type

Instrument

Target

Earth

Status

Current

About the mission

Making up one piece of the most advanced and accurate atmospheric chemistry laboratory ever deployed in space, the Microwave Limb Sounder, or MLS, instrument flies aboard NASA's Aura Earth satellite with three other instruments.

The Microwave Limb Sounder is designed to study the natural thermal radiation emitted from Earth's limb (the edge of Earth's atmosphere) to gather measurements on atmospheric gases, temperature and pressure. These data can be used to better understand the causes of ozone changes and pollution in the upper troposphere.

More about Earth

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NASA Data on Plant ‘Sweating’ Could Help Predict Wildfire Severity

Image .

The Electra Fire

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Death Valley, CA

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The Oak Fire

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Denver, CO

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Evapotranspiration over San Joaquin Valley

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Evaporative Stress Index over San Joaquin Valley

Image .

The Rices Fire

Image .

Evapotranspiration over Central Valley

News .

Tonga Eruption Blasted Unprecedented Amount of Water Into Stratosphere

Mission Website
Fact Sheet
NASA Mission Page
Microwave Limb Sounder Information on National Space Science Data Center

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