Spaceborne laser instruments for high-resolution mapping

Anthony W. Yu; Michael A. Krainak; David J. Harding; James B. Abshire; Xiaoli Sun; Susan Valett; John Cavanaugh; Luis Ramos-Izquierdo

doi:10.1117/12.843191

Translator Disclaimer

17 February 2010 Spaceborne laser instruments for high-resolution mapping

Anthony W. Yu, Michael A. Krainak, David J. Harding, James B. Abshire, Xiaoli Sun, Susan Valett, John Cavanaugh, Luis Ramos-Izquierdo

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 7578, Solid State Lasers XIX: Technology and Devices; 757802 (2010) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.843191
Event: SPIE LASE, 2010, San Francisco, California, United States

Abstract

We discuss past, present and future spaceborne laser instruments for high-resolution mapping of Earth and planetary surfaces. Previous spaceborne-laser-altimeters projected and imaged a single laser spot for surface-height measurements. In contrast, the recent Lunar Orbiter Laser Altimeter (LOLA) instrument on the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) uses a non-scanning multi-beam system for surface topography mapping. The multi-beam instrument facilitates surface slope measurement and reduces the time-to-completion for global high-resolution topographic mapping. We discuss our first-year progress on a three-year swath-mapping laser-altimetry Instrument Incubator Program (IIP) funded by the NASA Earth Science Technology Office (ESTO). Our IIP is a technology development program supporting the LIdar Surface Topography (LIST) space-flight mission that is a third-tier mission as recommended by the National Research Council (NRC) for NASA's Earth Science programs.

Citation Download Citation

Anthony W. Yu, Michael A. Krainak, David J. Harding, James B. Abshire, Xiaoli Sun, Susan Valett, John Cavanaugh, and Luis Ramos-Izquierdo "Spaceborne laser instruments for high-resolution mapping", Proc. SPIE 7578, Solid State Lasers XIX: Technology and Devices, 757802 (17 February 2010); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.843191

ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE