Glory was a remote-sensing Earth-orbiting observatory designed to achieve two primary mission objectives. One is to collect data on the physical and chemical properties as well as the spatial and temporal distributions of aerosols. The other is to continue collection of total solar irradiance data for the long-term climate record.

Glory launched from Space Launch Complex 576-E at Vandenberg Air Force Base on March 4, 2011 onboard a Taurus XL launch vehicle. However, telemetry indicated the fairing, the protective shell atop the Taurus XL rocket, did not separate as expected about three minutes after launch, and the satellite failed to achieve orbit.

credit: NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center

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