Spaceborne lasers development for ALADIN and ATLID instruments

Abstract

ALADIN TXA and ATLID TxA are All-Solid-State, compact, state-of-the-art, Transmitter-laser Assemblies for the Aeolus wind lidar and Earth Care Atmospheric lidar satellites respectively. They are MOPA, medium energy, pulsed, frequency tripled, tunable, single mode Nd:YAG lasers with 50 Hz PRF and a three years in-orbit lifetime. The design for both lasers are presented, together with the main technological challenges faced during the programs development.