Chair: Pol Ribes-Pleguezuelo – Co-Chair: TBD

 

In exploration missions, the maturation of laser technologies has enabled Lidars to replace somewhat outdated microwave systems. These systems range from miniaturized altimetry systems capable of measuring the distance to asteroids for planetary defence missions, to compact imaging Lidars for planetary landing, rendezvous or docking.

In the beginning, Altimetry Lidars were developed for space missions for basic ranging. Since then, these devices have been implemented in different missions for:

• Detection and ranging, and additionally for landing applications,
• Planet surface morphology,
• Vegetation height and profile monitoring.

More recently developed Imaging or 3D Lidars are a key technology for current and future space applications, which include:

• Close proximity guidance and navigation for rendezvous and docking of spacecraft,
• Automated descent and landing of spacecraft onto planets or other bodies,
• Orbital satellite servicing, or debris removal,
• Navigation and control of robots and rovers during planetary exploration,
• Shape sensing of structures.

The exploration of Mars and the Moon, shall be driven with Lidar equipped rovers and landers. Whilst, the technology for these “smaller” systems is not different from the larger atmospheric Lidars presented in previous sessions, the additional applications and challenges introduced are countless.