Laser transceivers for future NASA missions

Abstract

NASA is currently developing several Earth science laser missions that were recommended by the US National Research Council (NRC) Earth Science Decadal Report. The Ice Cloud and Land Elevation Satellite-2 (ICESat-2) will carry the Advanced Topographic Laser Altimeter System (ATLAS) is scheduled for launch in 2016. The Active Sensing of CO₂ Emissions over Nights, Days, and Seasons (ASCENDS) mission and will measure column atmospheric CO₂ concentrations from space globally. The Gravity Recovery And Climate Experiment (GRACE) Follow-On (GRACEFO) and GRACE-2 missions measure the spatially resolved seasonal variability in the Earth's gravitational field. The objective of the Lidar Surface Topography (LIST) mission is to globally map the topography of the Earth's solid surface with 5 m spatial resolution and 10 cm vertical precision, as well as the height of overlying covers of vegetation, water, snow, and ice. This paper gives an overview of the laser transmitter and receiver approaches and technologies for several future missions that are being investigated by the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center.