Widely Tunable Fast Semiconductor Laser Seed Source at 1030nm for LIDAR Remote Sensing

Goddard Space Flight center is developing a novel LIDAR instrument which will be capable of tracking both ground vegetation as well as ice and snow simultaneously, with high resolution. In this program, we will develop a key component to be used in the LIDAR instrument, a low SWaP tunable laser seed source operating in the 1030nm wavelength range. This laser will be based on Freedom Photonics swept laser platform, which is commercially available on other wavelengths.

This program was inspired by an existing need within NASA (GSFC) for new, more precise and powerful remote sensing instrument implementations.

This is early/mid-stage (TRL 3) — 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.

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