← Back to NASA Technology Projects
Canceled TRL 2 (started at 2, targeting 3)
We propose to develop and demonstrate the key elements for a new orbital laser altimeter that can generate the titan atmosphere and range to the surface through a certain spectral transmission window. The objective is to provide an accurate, high-resolution map of Titan’s topography. The project will demonstrate the key elements and measurement performance.
The primary science product of TOLA is the Titan surface topographic map, global shape, tide, changes in the local topography. There are compelling and unmet needs to measure the global topography of Titan at sub-meter levels and to monitor the changes in surface elevation over time. Investigations of the outer planets and their moons also benefit greatly from active remote sensing techniques, as the signal to noise ratio (SNR) of passive spectrometers decreases with the solar flux at Jupiter and beyond. Cassini has provided the best imagery of Titan’s surface, principally from the imaging cameras (ISS), near-infrared mapping spectrometer (VIMS) and 2.2 cm Ku band RADAR. Additional imagery from Huygens DISR covers only a limited spatial region near the descent, about 30 km in size. The typical best resolutions achievable are (ISS) 0.3-2.5 km (VIMS) and 0.3-1.7 km (RADAR-SAR), with RADAR also able to provide altimetric information at height resolution of 30 m in a footprint size of 20 km (Le Gall et al. 2011) in nadir ranging mode, and ~75 m height resolution in SAR-topo mode. However current RADAR imaging and topographic resolution is insufficient to make a definitive pronouncement about this feature. It has been hypothesized that Titan is still geologically active, based on observations from Cassini and previous spacecraft. Transient lake features have been reported and lake surface elevations are expected to change with winds and tides. A high-resolution topographic map of Titan surface and its changes with time will allow scientist to better understand the surface characteristics and improve geophysical hypotheses and models, particularly ‘hydrological’ models to better understand the observer geomorphology. The Cassini data and current radar approaches are not sufficient to answer these key questions.A laser altimeter has a much smaller footprint size and will give much more accurate (sub-meter level) range measurements at a much higher spatial resolution than radar.
Listed on TechPort itself — the most direct way to ask about this specific project.
This is early/mid-stage (TRL 2) — 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.