The U.S. space agency has postponed the launch of a new satellite designed to provide the most complete information ever on the health of Earth's atmosphere, due to technical reasons.

　　Officials at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration said Saturday the launch of the Aura Satellite aboard a Boeing Delta-2 rocket from Vandenburg Air Force Base in California has been delayed from Sunday to early Monday. A spokesman for Boeing says the rocket's nose cone requires adjustments.

　　The Aura will help scientists learn about the recovery of the ozone layer, processes controlling air quality and global climate changes.

　　It is the third in a trio of satellites that are part of NASA's Earth Observing System program aimed at studying our planet's atmosphere. The Terra satellite monitors land and the Aqua satellite observes the Earth's water cycle.