According to foreign media reports, the laser pointer instrument designed to map the earth's forests in high resolution 3D is being finally integrated and tested at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center. Global Ecosystem Dynamics Research (GEDI) instruments are expected to be launched during SpaceX's 16th commercial re-supply service mission, with a target time of late 2018. GEDI is led by the University of Maryland and is currently under construction at NASA Goddard.
As a lidar instrument, GEDI has three lasers that will produce eight ground orbits. As the space station and GEDI orbit the earth, the laser pulses emitted by GEDI will reflect images of clouds, trees and the surface of the earth. Although the instrument collects height information for all objects on its path, it is designed specifically for mapping forests. The amount and intensity of the light fed back to the GEDI telescope will reveal detailed information about the height and density of trees and vegetation, including the structure of leaves and branches within the forest canopy.
GEDI will be the first on-board laser pointer instrument to measure Earth's tropical and temperate forest structures in high resolution and three dimensions. These measurements will help fill key gaps in scientists' global forest carbon storage, the potential for ecosystems to absorb increasing carbon dioxide concentrations in the Earth's atmosphere, and the impact of forest change on biodiversity.
The team is currently preparing to pass a series of pre-release tests to ensure that GEDI can withstand the rigors of launch and operation in space.