NASA industry team advances Lidar technology for Earth and Lunar missions

NASA industry team advances Lidar technology for Earth and Lunar missions
by Clarence Oxford
Los Angeles CA (SPX) Mar 20, 2024

This summer, NASA engineers will embark on airborne tests of innovative laser technologies designed for Earth science and potentially enhancing lunar exploration models. These instruments, based on light detection and ranging (lidar) technology, promise to refine the accuracy of models depicting the Moon's topography and identify suitable landing areas for the Artemis missions.

Lidars, which function similarly to sonar but utilize light waves, gauge distances by measuring the time taken for a laser beam to bounce back from a surface. These devices are becoming vital in aiding NASA's efforts to navigate, map, and gather scientific data across various missions.

At the Goddard Space Flight Center in Maryland, the development of more compact, lightweight, and flexible lidar instruments is underway, with contributions from small businesses and academic collaborators. "The challenge with current 3D-imaging lidars is achieving the two-inch resolution necessary for the precision required by future exploration missions," explains engineer Jeffrey Chen. "Our system integrates 3D hazard-detection and navigation doppler lidar capabilities, something no current technology can offer."

The Concurrent Artificially intelligent Spectrometry and Adaptive Lidar System (CASALS) is at the forefront of these advancements. Unlike traditional lidars that emit fixed-wavelength lasers, CASALS utilizes a tunable laser and a prism-like grating, allowing for a broader coverage per pass. This innovation is not only expected to enhance Earth observations but also to support missions to the Moon and Mars due to its reduced size, weight, and power consumption.

With funding from NASA's Earth Science Technology Office, CASALS will undergo airborne testing in 2024, marking a milestone toward spaceflight readiness. As lidar technology evolves, CASALS introduces the capability to use various laser wavelengths for diverse applications, from Earth science to interplanetary exploration and navigation.

The development of CASALS has been supported by NASA's Internal Research and Development program, the Small Business Innovation Research Program, and collaborations with industry partners like Axsun Technologies and Freedom Photonics. These partnerships have yielded fast-tuning lasers in the infrared spectrum, crucial for Earth and planetary science applications.

Goddard's Earth sciences chief technologist, Ian Adams, notes the significance of 1-micron wavelength lasers in distinguishing vegetation from barren landscapes on Earth, as well as their potential in studying atmospheric water vapor. Additionally, collaboration with Left Hand Design Corporation has produced a steering mirror that extends the 3D imaging capabilities of CASALS, enhancing its resolution and range.

The precise imaging offered by CASALS could prove invaluable for Artemis missions targeting the Moon's South Pole, aiding in the assessment of landing site safety. Beyond landing site selection, high-resolution Moon models generated using CASALS technology will enhance our understanding of lunar subsurface structures and their evolution over time, according to planetary scientist Erwan Mazarico.

The Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter's ongoing measurements, combined with the enhanced capabilities of CASALS, are set to further our understanding of lunar features and the Moon's response to Earth's gravitational influence.