Pulsed Lasers for Space: LIDAR, FSOC, and Lunar Exploration

Customer Success Stories

Aeolus Satellite’s Wind Mapping Breakthrough

The European Space Agency’s Aeolus satellite, launched to measure global wind profiles, relied on the ALADIN (Atmospheric Laser Doppler Instrument) transmitter. From 2004–2007, Bright Solutions, as a subcontractor, developed a Nd:YAG Q-switched MOPA laser, frequency-tripled to 355 nm, delivering >100 mJ in stabilized single-longitudinal-mode (SLM) at 50 Hz. Operating continuously, ALADIN generates 5 MW pulses in the ultraviolet, enhancing weather forecasting and climate research. This high-power UV laser, the first to operate long-term in space, enabled ESA to improve atmospheric dynamics understanding, making Aeolus a pioneer in space-based wind observation.

Additional Projects

• Water Vapor LIDAR (2005–2006): For ESA’s WALES project, Bright Solutions developed a high-energy Ti:Sa tunable laser (920–950 nm, 150 mJ, 10 ns, injection-seeded SLM), supporting water vapor measurements for climate studies.
• High Spectral Resolution LIDAR (2015–2018): Bright Solutions created narrow-line lasers at 1064 nm and 532 nm, up to 200 mJ, enabling an aerospace team to advance high-resolution atmospheric LIDAR applications.
• Joule-Class LIDAR Lasers (2017–2020): Bright Solutions designed Joule-class lasers for satellite-borne LIDAR, empowering precise Earth and atmosphere observation for a global mission team.

High-Altitude 3D Mapping Precision

An aerospace team needed to map natural and artificial structures from high altitudes at high speeds. Bright Solutions provided hermetic, ruggedized DPSS lasers with 400 ps pulses, up to 700 µJ, and 1 MW peak power at 100 kHz, available at 1064 nm or 532 nm. Configurations included 25 W at 532 nm (40–100 kHz, M² < 1.5) and 100 W at 1064 nm (50–100 kHz, 500 ps), both with low jitter. These lasers delivered high longitudinal accuracy and the best performance-to-size ratio, enabling the team to create high-resolution 3D maps for civil and defense programs, setting a benchmark for airborne LIDAR.

NASA’s OSIRIS-REx: Asteroid Mapping

NASA’s OSIRIS-REx mission to asteroid Bennu required precise topographical mapping. The OSIRIS-REx Laser Altimeter (OLA), launched in 2016, used two Bright Solutions 1064 nm lasers: a 10-µJ, 10-kHz sub-ns microchip laser for short-range high-resolution mapping and a 1-mJ, 100-Hz multi-ns DPSS laser for long-range (up to 7.5 km) acquisitions. Achieving 5 cm accuracy at 200 m, OLA supported navigation, gravitational studies, and sample site selection, helping the team collect Bennu’s regolith in 2020 and advance planetary science.

Lunar Mission Advancements: LIBS & Flash-LIDAR

For in-progress ESA/NASA lunar missions, Bright Solutions developed customized lasers for on-site LIBS (Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy) and flash-LIDAR. Their space-grade, miniaturized laser head for LIBS delivers 532 nm, <2 ns pulses at 200 Hz with variable power, using microchip technology. For landing operations, a compact active Q-switched DPSS laser provides 532 nm, <2 ns pulses, up to 2 mJ at 1 kHz, enabling 3D-laser gated imaging. These lasers empower mission teams to analyze lunar soil and navigate landings, paving the way for future lunar exploration.

Satellite Ranging Laser Solutions

An aerospace team required lasers for satellite ranging. Bright Solutions delivered a water-cooled, single-unit DPSS laser with >2 mJ at 532 nm, <100 ps pulses, and 1 kHz repetition rate. With low divergence (<0.5 mrad) and output pointing stability (<50 µrad), this laser ensured precise distance measurements, supporting diverse space missions and enhancing orbital operations.

Terrestrial LIDAR & Bathymetry Capabilities

While focused on space, Bright Solutions also excels in terrestrial applications. Their 2010 CZMIL program laser (6 mJ, 2 ns, 532/1064 nm) and >30 global MOPA lasers, including drone-based versions, power coastal and river mapping, showcasing their LIDAR and bathymetry expertise.