Design validation for ICESat2 space-based laser transmitter

Patrick M. Burns; Nicholas W. Sawruk; Andre VanTuijl; Slava Litvinovitch; Ti Chuang; Ryan E. Edwards; William J. Rudd; Elias Fakhoury; Theodore Wysocki; Floyd E. Hovis

doi:10.1117/12.2062323

26 September 2014 Design validation for ICESat-2 space-based laser transmitter

Patrick M. Burns, Nicholas W. Sawruk, Andre VanTuijl, Slava Litvinovitch, Ti Chuang, Ryan E. Edwards, William J. Rudd, Elias Fakhoury, Theodore Wysocki, Floyd E. Hovis

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 9218, Earth Observing Systems XIX; 92181G (2014) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2062323
Event: SPIE Optical Engineering + Applications, 2014, San Diego, California, United States

Abstract

Fibertek is under contract from NASA Goddard to build four space qualified laser transmitters for the ICESat-2 (Ice, Cloud, and Land Elevation Satellite) program, a second generation orbiting laser altimeter. Pertinent laser parameters driving the design included laser wall plug efficiency, laser reliability, a relatively narrow linewidth with wavelength tunability, high beam quality (M²<1.6), short pulsewidths (<1.5ns), and energy scalable from 250 μJ to 900μJ in predefined steps. The laser design employs fiber coupled 880nm diodes and end-pump Nd:YVO4 slabs as the gain medium in a master oscillator/power amplifier (MOPA) architecture with an LBO second harmonic generator (SHG). Following the SHG is a telescope that sets the final beam size and divergence requirements. The first laser built will be the Integration and Test Laser (ITL) used for qualification of the design. The ITL will set the baseline parameters for the flight laser builds. The ITL will also validate the design for the telescope and will be subjected to the full environmental testing required for a space hardened flight laser. Environmental testing includes vibration, thermal vacuum conditions, and electromagnetic interference (EMI). Our presentation will address the measured laser parameters from ITL as compared to the as designed laser.

Citation Download Citation

Patrick M. Burns, Nicholas W. Sawruk, Andre VanTuijl, Slava Litvinovitch, Ti Chuang, Ryan E. Edwards, William J. Rudd, Elias Fakhoury, Theodore Wysocki, and Floyd E. Hovis "Design validation for ICESat-2 space-based laser transmitter", Proc. SPIE 9218, Earth Observing Systems XIX, 92181G (26 September 2014); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2062323

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