CO2 Sounder Lidar for Earth Science Missions

Completed TRL 4 (started at 3, targeting 6)

Description

We have been developing the CO2 Sounder lidar to provide active (laser-based) column measurements of atmospheric CO2 from space. The tasks are to conduct OSSE experiments to clarify the science traceability matrix, support laser development to increase the laser power and increase the TRL, improving the receiver design and analysis and retrieval approaches, and to analyze lidar measurements of CO2 made from aircraft.

Benefits

This project will benefit Earth Science Missions like NASA's planned ASCENDS Mission.

The technology will also benefit future orbital missions to measure the properties of the atmosphere using lidar.

Details

Technology area	Sensors and Instruments > Remote Sensing Instruments and Sensors > Lasers
Program	Center Independent Research & Development: GSFC IRAD (GSFC IRAD)
Lead organization	Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD
Start date	2014-10-01
End date	2018-09-30

Project contacts

Listed on TechPort itself — the most direct way to ask about this specific project.

Matthew Mcgill
William E Cutlip — william.e.cutlip@nasa.gov
James B Abshire — james.b.abshire@nasa.gov
Haris Riris — haris.riris-1@nasa.gov
Jeffrey R Chen — jeffrey.r.chen@nasa.gov
Mark A Stephen — mark.a.stephen@nasa.gov
Stephan R Kawa — stephan.r.kawa@nasa.gov
Xiaoli Sun — xiaoli.sun-1@nasa.gov

How to get involved

This is early/mid-stage (TRL 4) — the most realistic path in is NASA SBIR/STTR, which funds small businesses and research institutions to develop technology aligned with NASA's needs (equity-free, phased funding). Check whether a current SBIR/STTR solicitation topic overlaps with this project's technology area, or contact the project directly (above) to ask.

None of these are guaranteed paths for this specific project — TechPort itself doesn't have an "apply" button. Reaching out to the contact(s) above with a specific question is usually the fastest way to find out what's actually open.