Spaceflight laser development for future remote sensing applications

Abstract

At NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center we are developing next generation laser transmitters for future spaceflight, remote instruments including a micropulse altimeter for ice-sheet and sea ice monitoring, laser spectroscopic measurements of atmospheric CO 2 and an imaging lidar for high resolution mapping of the Earth's surface. These laser transmitters also have applicability to potential missions to other solar-system bodies for trace gas measurements and surface mapping. In this paper we review NASA spaceflight laser transmitters used to acquire measurements in orbit around Mars, Mercury, Earth and the Moon. We then present an overview of our current spaceflight laser programs and describe their intended uses for remote sensing science and exploration applications.

Flexure mounted spaceflight laser for high g-load launch environment

“…Advancement in this technology is needed to address the demanding requirements of future lidar missions 1,2 . For the past few years, Fibertek has been designing, building and testing the laser transmitter for the ICESat-2 mission 3 .…”

High-power ns-pulse fiber laser sources for remote sensors

“…laser-based) remote sensors deployed on satellites offer unique benefits for studies of the earth surface and atmosphere, including support for global and continual coverage regardless of latitude and time of day [1][2][3]. However, the deployment of laser transmitters in space is challenging because these devices must typically satisfy many requirements at once, including high optical power for long-range operation; high spectral brightness for background light rejection; low size, weight, and power consumption (SWaP) for compatibility with flight platforms; and high reliability for unassisted long-term operation.…”

Highly efficient Yb:YAG Master Oscillator Power Amplifier Laser Transmitter for Future Space Flight Missions

“…The power amplifier (PA) is based on a planar waveguide (PWG) design with a goal to achieve a single pass output average power of 16 W (or energy per pulse of 1.6 mJ at 10 kHz) at wavelength of ~1030 nm. This laser may form the basis for future space flight remote sensing applications [1].…”