Atmospheric lidar multiuser instrument - A Spacelab payload

With the advent of the Space Shuttle, it will be possible to place a sophisticated Lidar instrument onto a spacelab pallet and probe the atmosphere, at will, globally, remotely, at different wavelengths. NASA has been concerned with the implementation of such a concept. A study was conducted to define the type of Lidar system and the measurements needed for such an implementation. A description is presented of the definition study, which was subdivided in four major task areas. The Lidar instrument system obtained as a result of the study represents NASA-Langley's current design which has been proposed for continued development, implementation, and launch in the late 1980's.