Laser Remote Sensing and Lidar Measurements for Planetary Bodies

Laser Remote Sensing and lidar have been used for earth remote sensing for a number of years however the inefficiency of laser devices has limited their application to planetary sensing where power is at a premium. The potential availability of a large amount of power for the Jupiter Icy Moons Orbiter (JIMO) opens up the potential to implement laser remote sensing for planetary bodies. Lidars have been and can be used to map terrain, measure atmospheric and surface parameters including velocity and composition. In this paper we will provide an overview of the lidar capabilities at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory and address the types of lidar measurements that could be relevant to JIMO science investigations.