A shuttle scanning laser altimeter for topographic mappingThe shuttle scanning laser altimeter is an instrument, currently under development at JPL, capable of producing a three-dimensional elevation map of the topography along a wide swath beneath a spaceborne platform. Operating on the same principle as radar (broadcast of a short pulse of radiation and timing the reception of an echo) the very narrow beamwidths and high pulse rates of modern lasers would allow a significant breakthrough in the areal resolution capability of altimeters. Specifically, the copper vapor laser currently available and planned for use would provide 50 meter horizontal and 3 meter vertical resolution over a 10 kilometer continuous swath or, in a snapshot mode, a 50 kilometer square area.
Document ID
19820044097
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Conference Proceedings
Authors
Kobrick, M. (Jet Propulsion Lab., California Inst. of Tech. Pasadena, CA, United States)
Elachi, C. (California Institute of Technology, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena CA, United States)
Date Acquired
August 10, 2013
Publication Date
January 1, 1981
Subject Category
Instrumentation And Photography
Meeting Information
Meeting: In: International Symposium on Remote Sensing of Environment