Overview of the upper atmosphere research satellite: Observations from 1991 to 2002 Original Research Article

The Upper Atmosphere Research Satellite (LIARS) was launched in September 1991 by the Space Shuttle Discovery and continues to make relevant atmospheric measurements (as of October 2002). This successful satellite has fostered a better understanding of the middle atmospheric processes, especially those important in the control of ozone. Seven of the original ten instruments aboard the LIARS are still functional and six instruments regularly make measurements. The LIARS is in a stable observing configuration, in spite of experiencing several anomalies over its lifetime. It is expected that the LIARS will overlap the Earth Observing System (EOS) Aura satellite (scheduled launch in January 2004) for several months before the end of the LIARS mission.