Nasa's Laser Risk Reduction Program: A risk reduction approach for technology development

Abstract

The benefits of Earth Science (ES) laser instrumentation have been proven by decades of earth-science observations. Lasers allow remote sensing of earth-system variables such as sea elevation, atmospheric composition, wind profiles, cloud cover, ice mass, and vegetation canopy. Further, orbiting platforms provide a unique vantage point that allows laser measurements on a global scale. NASA implemented the Laser Risk Reduction Program (LRRP) to identify and address capability-gap areas where new devices or processes could yield high-reliability mission-ready parts, and to develop components needed to advance the state-of-the-art of laser-based instrumentation. This paper discusses LRRP's approach and the evolution of the program's developments from inception to their planned infusion into NASA's missions. It is the first part of a three-paper presentation (Program goals and organization; 1µ developments and results at the Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC); and 2µ developments and results at Langley Research Center (LaRC)) that summarizes LRRP's goals, formulation approach, management organization, and final results.