| Issue |
EPJ Web Conf.
Volume 362, 2026
31st International Laser Radar Conference (ILRC 31) Held Together with the 22nd Coherent Laser Radar Conference (CLRC 22)
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Article Number | 11002 | |
| Number of page(s) | 3 | |
| Section | Joint CLRC/ILRC Session: Airborne and Spaceborne Wind Lidar Missions (Aeolus etc.) | |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1051/epjconf/202636211002 | |
| Published online | 09 April 2026 | |
https://doi.org/10.1051/epjconf/202636211002
Development and Demonstration of Navigation Doppler Lidar for Planetary Landing Missions
NASA Langley Research Center Hampton, VA 23681, USA This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Published online: 9 April 2026
Abstract
A coherent Doppler lidar has been developed by NASA for providing vector velocity and altitude data to landing vehicles. Future robotic and manned missions to planetary bodies demand precise ground-relative velocity and altitude data to execute complex descent maneuvers for safe, soft and pinpoint landing at a pre-designated site. This lidar sensor, referred to as Navigation Doppler Lidar (NDL), transmits three laser beams at different pointing angles toward the ground and measures range and velocity along each beam. The capabilities of NDL were recently demonstrated on the first commercial lunar landing mission. This paper describes the development of NDL for spaceflights, explains its operation onboard landing vehicles, and highlights the results of its recent lunar landing mission.
© The Authors, published by EDP Sciences, 2026
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