Lidar in-space technology experiment (LITE); NASA's first in-space lidar system for atmospheric research

Journal Article · Tue Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1991 · Optical Engineering; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1117/12.55775· OSTI ID:7175472

Couch, R H; Rowland, C W; Ellis, K S; Blythe, M P; Regan, C P; Koch, M R; Antill, C W; Kitchen, W L; Cox, J W; DeLorme, J F; Crockett, S K; Remus, R W ^[1]; Casas, J C ^[2]; Hunt, W H ^[3]

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1. NASA/Langley Research Center, Hampton, VA (US)
2. SpaceTec Ventures, Hampton, VA (US)
3. Wyle Lab., Hampton, VA (US)

The Lidar In-Space Technology Experiment (LITE) is being developed by NASA/Langley Research Center for flight on the Space Shuttle. The system will detect stratospheric and tropospheric aerosols, probe the planetary boundary layer, measure cloud top heights, and measure atmospheric temperature and density in the range of 10 to 40 km. The system consists of a nominal 1 m diameter telescope receiver, a three-color neodymium:YAG laser transmitter, and the system electronics. The instrument makes extensive use of Space Shuttle resources for electrical power, thermal control, and command and data handling. The instrument will fly on the Space Shuttle in mid-1993. This paper presents the engineering aspects of the design, fabrication, integration, and operation of the instrument. A companion paper by members of the LITE Science Steering Group that details the science aspects of LITE is the preparation and will be published at a later time.

• OSTI ID: 7175472
• Journal Information: Optical Engineering; (United States), Journal Name: Optical Engineering; (United States) Vol. 30:1; ISSN OPEGA; ISSN 0091-3286
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

440600* -- Optical Instrumentation-- (1990-)
47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION
AEROSOLS
AIRCRAFT
COLLOIDS
DENSITY
DESIGN
DISPERSIONS
EARTH ATMOSPHERE
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
ENGINEERING
FABRICATION
LASER RADIATION
MEASURING INSTRUMENTS
NASA
NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
OPERATION
OPTICAL RADAR
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
RADAR
RADIATIONS
RANGE FINDERS
REMOTE SENSING
RESEARCH PROGRAMS
SOLS
SPACE SHUTTLES
SPACE VEHICLES
STRATOSPHERE
TEMPERATURE MEASUREMENT
TROPOSPHERE
US ORGANIZATIONS
VEHICLES