Title: Development of the Global Ozone Lidar Demonstrator (GOLD) for the Global Hawk
Primary Author: Johnathan Hair
Organization: NASA Langley Research Center
Co-Author(s): Johnathan Hair and Keith Murray - NASA Langley Research Center; Dave Fratello and Chris Naftel - NASA Dryden Flight Research Center

Abstract: A compact ozone (O3) and aerosol lidar system is being developed for conducting global atmospheric investigations from the NASA Global Hawk Uninhabited Aerial Vehicle (UAV) and for enabling the development and test of a space-based O3 and aerosol lidar.  GOLD incorporates advanced technologies and designs to produce a compact, autonomously operating O3 and aerosol Differential Absorption Lidar (DIAL) system for a UAV platform.  The GOLD system leverages advanced Nd:YAG and optical parametric oscillator laser technologies and receiver optics, detectors, and electronics.  Significant progress has been made toward the development of the GOLD system, and this paper provides an overview of this program with a focus on the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funded tasks that enable the GOLD system for flight on the NASA Global Hawk.