The Global Ecosystem Dynamics Investigation (GEDI) Lidar laser transmitter

D. Barry Coyle; Paul R. Stysley; Furqan L. Chirag; Erich Frese; Demetrios Poulios

doi:10.1117/12.2532122

9 September 2019 The Global Ecosystem Dynamics Investigation (GEDI) Lidar laser transmitter

D. Barry Coyle, Paul R. Stysley, Furqan L. Chirag, Erich Frese, Demetrios Poulios

Proceedings Volume 11128, Infrared Remote Sensing and Instrumentation XXVII; 111280L (2019) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2532122
Event: SPIE Optical Engineering + Applications, 2019, San Diego, California, United States

Abstract

The Global Ecosystems Dynamics Investigation (GEDI) Lidar, is an Earth Science remote sensing instrument aboard the International Space Station (ISS) and the Japanese Experiment Module (JEM). Its core mission is to measure the global carbon balance of Earth’s forests by using a set of three solid state laser transmitters in a multibeam waveform capture lidar technique. GEDI’s laser transmitters and precision optical system transmits over 3.4 million laser pulses to the Earth every hour, each pulse producing an individual 3-D biomass column measurement. To enable a successful two-year mission, the lasers had to be reliable, highly repeatable in performance with each measurement power cycle, and designed with minimal part count for reduced manufacture complexity and cost. These transmitters are in-house products; developed, constructed, qualified, and fully integrated into the GEDI instrument at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center. We will present the lasers’ path from initial design to flight operation, with emphasis on the major milestones, critical issues, and lessons learned. Full credit goes to the excellent team effort that led to the successful commissioning and initiation of full-time science operations in March 2019.

Conference Presentation

Citation Download Citation

D. Barry Coyle, Paul R. Stysley, Furqan L. Chirag, Erich Frese, and Demetrios Poulios "The Global Ecosystem Dynamics Investigation (GEDI) Lidar laser transmitter", Proc. SPIE 11128, Infrared Remote Sensing and Instrumentation XXVII, 111280L (9 September 2019); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2532122

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