NERC Press Conference
9 June 2004
NERC held a joint press conference with NASA and the British National Space Centre for the launch of the Aura spacecraft yesterday (8 June 2004).
The press conference, at the Science Museum in London, successfully highlighted NERC's involvement in the $812m project. NASA's second in command flew in from the States to attend the conference. Dr Ghassem Asrar, the Associate Administrator for Earth Science at NASA, talked about the key role Britain has in the field of Earth observation and how this could be developed further.
Our very own Andrew Kaye, head of Atmospheric Science, spoke of how the NERC community intend to use the data gained from Aura and in particular data from the High Resolution Dynamics Limb Sounder. NERC funded the development and construction of the instrument, one of the four on board Aura. It will measure ozone recovery, air quality and movement and concentrations of greenhouse gases from cloud level up to the lower stratosphere (10-15km).
Aura was due to be launched on 26 June. This has now been postponed as NASA found a fault in a valve on the launch vehicle.
Further information
NERC Press Office
Natural Environment Research Council
Polaris House, North Star Avenue
Swindon, SN2 1EU
Tel: 01793 411727 or 411561
Mob: 07917 086369 or 557215
Notes for editors:
Further information is contained in the associated press release.
Press release: 14-1/04
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