Title: Fiber-based, trace-gas, laser transmitter technology development for space
Presenting Author: Mark Stephen
Organization: NASA GSFC
Co-Author(s): Mark Stephen, Anthony Yu, Jeffrey Chen, Kenji Numata, Jeffrey Nicholson, Anand Hariharan, Stewart Wu, Graham Allan, Brayler Gonzales, Lawrence Han, William Hasselbrack, Michael Rodriguez, William Mamakos, Molly Fahey, James Abshire

Abstract:
NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) is developing the technology for a fiber-based laser transmitter. The ultimate goal is to demonstrate the technology is ready for deployment in space by building a prototype that meets all of the optical performance requirements and passes relevant environmental tests that simulate launch and satellite operation. We are working on a 1.57 µm fiber-based master oscillator power amplifier (MOPA) laser transmitter architecture using a very large mode area (VLMA) Er-fiber amplifier with 1480 nm Raman fiber in-band pumping. While the technology development has broad applicability, the performance requirements were developed for atmospheric CO2 remote-sensing measurements targeting NASA’s ASCENDS Mission. We have developed an optical design capable of high peak optical power, high efficiency, tunable and narrow wavelength spectrum and very flexible temporal pulse characteristics. We have built a ruggedized prototype and are beginning environmental testing. We will review the transmitter architecture, performance, packaging and environmental testing results to demonstrate technology readiness level (TRL) of 6.