The Global Ecosystem Dynamics Investigation (GEDI) Lidar Laser Transmitter

摘要

The Global Ecosystems Dynamics Investigation (GEDI) Lidar, is an Earth Science remote sensing instrument aboardthe International Space Station (ISS) and the Japanese Experiment Module (JEM). Its core mission is to measure theglobal carbon balance of Earth’s forests by using a set of three solid state laser transmitters in a multibeam waveformcapture lidar technique. GEDI’s laser transmitters and precision optical system transmits over 3.4 million laser pulsesto the Earth every hour, each pulse producing an individual 3-D biomass column measurement. To enable a successfultwo-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-houseproducts; developed, constructed, qualified, and fully integrated into the GEDI instrument at NASA’s Goddard SpaceFlight Center. We will present the lasers’ path from initial design to flight operation, with emphasis on the majormilestones, critical issues, and lessons learned. Full credit goes to the excellent team effort that led to the successfulcommissioning and initiation of full-time science operations in March 2019.