Active optical technology: recent developments and lessons learned

Abstract

This paper provides an overview of the active optical technology developments supporting the Earth Science Division at NASA. It summarizes key results from a multiyear NASA investment program aimed at enabling new Earth science measurement capabilities, and a special program focused upon developing new techniques in the 1-and 2-micron wavelengths and improving reliability and longevity of future NASA active sensing instruments. Examples for Earth Science measurements such as atmospheric composition, altimetry, wind profiles, ozone levels, and vegetation change are discussed.

Spaceborne laser filamentation for atmospheric remote sensing

“…Substantial R&D efforts were made to space‐qualify high power lasers since the mid‐1990s . Space qualification has proven challenging and lengthy, with special efforts made for maintaining precision alignments of optical mounts during and after launch, preventing contamination of optics from out‐gassing materials in vacuum, resistance of electronic components and optical materials to vacuum, thermal cycling, and radiation exposure .…”