Raytheon Co. [RTN] said it shipped a sensor that will study aerosols and their effects on Earth climate, the company announced.

The Aerosol Polarimetry Sensor will be integrated with NASA’s Glory spacecraft and readied for launch.

This Glory mission will be the first dedicated to understanding the effects of aerosols and solar variability on climate.

As a primary sensor for the mission, the Raytheon unit is designed to measure with unprecedented accuracy the global distribution of natural and man-made aerosols. The sensor has passed tests that indicate it will meet expectations.

"The Aerosol Polarimetry Sensor and the Glory mission serve an important purpose, one that will advance our understanding of the effect of aerosols on global warming and help us distinguish between natural and man-made aerosols," said Bill Hart, vice president for Raytheon Space Systems. "The data we provide will allow U.S. policymakers to reach better-informed decisions with regard to human interaction with the environment."