Contamination-induced degradation of spaceborne lidars

Kurzfassung

ADM-Aeolus, with the Atmospheric Laser Doppler Instrument ALADIN, is the second of ESA’s core Earth Explorer Missions. The launch of the satellite is planned for the end of 2008, and ESA and its contractors are currently performing tests to qualify the ALADIN laser for the three-year mission duration. One of the primary risks facing the laser is degradation or failure as a result of contaminant deposition on the laser optics. To address this issue, laser-induced contamination test benches have been set-up at both DLR Stuttgart and the European Space Technology and Research Centre, ESTEC, in Noordwijk in order to perform tests with organic materials used for the laser transmitter and the transmit receive optics of the ALADIN instrument. Test results from both test centres along with material analysis of the laser-induced contaminants performed by CSMA/MATS are presented.