Vintage NASA Mission Patch
These patches were created to promote the missions.
 
The Upper Atmosphere Research Satellite (UARS) was a NASA mission designed to study the Earth's upper atmosphere, with a particular focus on the ozone layer. The satellite was launched on September 12, 1991, and operated for more than a decade before it was decommissioned on December 14, 2005. During its mission, UARS provided valuable data on the composition, temperature, and dynamics of the Earth's upper atmosphere, which scientists used to better understand the mechanisms driving atmospheric change.
 
UARS was equipped with 10 scientific instruments, including spectrometers, radiometers, and a particle detector. These instruments measured a wide range of atmospheric variables, including the abundance of ozone and other gases, the temperature and density of the upper atmosphere, and the behavior of charged particles in the Earth's magnetic field. UARS made measurements at altitudes ranging from 15 to 600 kilometers (9 to 372 miles) above the Earth's surface.
 
One of UARS's most important contributions was its role in advancing our understanding of the ozone layer. The satellite provided detailed measurements of ozone levels, which allowed scientists to track the depletion of the ozone layer and investigate the causes of this phenomenon. UARS data also helped to confirm the link between ozone depletion and the release of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and other ozone-depleting substances into the atmosphere. UARS was one of the first missions to provide a comprehensive picture of the Earth's upper atmosphere, and its data continue to be used by scientists to this day to better understand the behavior of our planet's protective shield.