A NASA satellite, launched into a Sun-synchronous orbit from California on 15 July 2004, as part of the Earth Science Projects Division. Aura (Latin for breeze) carries four instruments that monitor the chemistry and dynamics of the atmosphere from the surface to the mesosphere. It is one of the four satellites that comprise the A-Train.
http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/aura/main/index.html A NASA mission to monitor complex scientific interactions affecting the globe.