The satellite was launched from Vandenberg Air Force Base on July 15, 2004, aboard a Delta II 7920-10L rocket.

The scientific findings of these studies address key NASA research objectives related to stratospheric composition, air quality, and climate change.

On March 12, 2010, Aura lost power from one-half of one of the 11 solar panels and this was attributed to a Micrometeoroid Orbital Debris (MMOD) strike.

New symptoms were detected in January 2017 and starting on March 21, 2017, Aura no longer recorded housekeeping data to partition 31.

A mechanical arm on the instrument began stalling intermittently in 2010, affecting TES's ability to collect data continuously.