Mission status, on-orbit performance, and lessons learned of the global ecosystem dynamics investigation (GEDI) lidar laser transmitters

D. Barry Coyle; Paul R. Stysley; Demetrios Poulios; Erich A. Frese; Furqan L. Chiragh

doi:10.1117/12.3003703

12 March 2024 Mission status, on-orbit performance, and lessons learned of the global ecosystem dynamics investigation (GEDI) lidar laser transmitters

D. Barry Coyle, Paul R. Stysley, Demetrios Poulios, Erich A. Frese, Furqan L. Chiragh

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 12864, Solid State Lasers XXXIII: Technology and Devices; 1286407 (2024) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.3003703
Event: SPIE LASE, 2024, San Francisco, California, United States

Abstract

The Global Ecosystems Dynamics Investigation (GEDI) Lidar, is a global three-dimensional biomass lidar instrument aboard the International Space Station (ISS) and the Japanese Experiment Module (JEM). Its core mission is to measure the global carbon balance of Earth’s forests with three laser transmitters using multi-beam waveform-capture methods. GEDI’s laser transmitter concept was originally funded by NASA Goddard’s Earth Science Technology Office (ESTO) for future Earth Altimetry and Lidar missions approximately 20 years ago, and after a winding story of stops and starts, the first flight-ready transmitter was a 10 mJ-class system for GEDI’s ISS-based specifications. Furthermore, no adjustment in drive parameters has been required nor significant decay detected after four years of near continuous operation of three on-board lasers, designed for a two-year mission. We present an overview of the GEDI laser development process, report on their mission performance, the major lessons learned, and some critical insight into our in-house flight quality development process that enabled their delivery within budget, schedule, and low risk extended mission life capability.

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(2024) Published by SPIE. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.

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D. Barry Coyle, Paul R. Stysley, Demetrios Poulios, Erich A. Frese, and Furqan L. Chiragh "Mission status, on-orbit performance, and lessons learned of the global ecosystem dynamics investigation (GEDI) lidar laser transmitters", Proc. SPIE 12864, Solid State Lasers XXXIII: Technology and Devices, 1286407 (12 March 2024); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.3003703

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