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Role of Lidar Technology in Future NASA Space Missions

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 February 2011

Farzin Amzajerdian
Farzin Amzajerdian*
Affiliation:
f.amzajerdian@nasa.gov, NASA
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Abstract

The past success of lidar instruments in space combined with potentials of laser remote sensing techniques in improving measurements traditionally performed by other instrument technologies and in enabling new measurements have expanded the role of lidar technology in future NASA missions. Compared with passive optical and active radar/microwave instruments, lidar systems produce substantially more accurate and precise data without reliance on natural light sources and with much greater spatial resolution. NASA pursues lidar technology not only as science instruments, providing atmospherics and surface topography data of Earth and other solar system bodies, but also as viable guidance and navigation sensors for space vehicles. This paper summarizes the current NASA lidar missions and describes the lidar systems being considered for deployment in space in the near future.

Keywords

government policy and fundinglaserradiation effects
Type
Research Article
Information
MRS Online Proceedings Library (OPL) , Volume 1076: Symposium K – Materials and Devices for Laser Remote Sensing and Optical Communication , 2008 , 1076-K04-01
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 2008

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References

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