CATS - New Remote-Sensing Instrument to Blaze a Trail on the International Space Station

"CATS in Space Keep Eyes on Atmosphere"

NASA Goddard is preparing to demonstrate for the fist time in space, a 3-wavelength, laser remote sensing instrument. The Cloud-Aerosol Transport System or CATS will measure clouds and aerosols in the Earth's atmosphere. This cost-effective, technology demonstration will be deployed on the International Space Station as early as December 2014.

For complete transcript, click here.

For complete transcript, click here.

Internal to the laser, special optical crystals are used to generate 3 wavelengths of light by adding the energy of two photons, to make a single new photon. The final output beam is made up of all three wavelengths and these photons are transmitted in groups, towards the atmosphere, at the speed of light. As photons encounter clouds or particles, scattering of the laser beam occurs. Very few of the photons scatter directly back to the optical telescope, but the ones that return, are collected and counted by sensitive detectors and electronics. By timing the difference between emission and detection, the precise altitude of the particles can be determined.

CATS will determine the height, thickness and the extent of smoke, dust particles, and volcanic ash in our atmosphere. Improving cloud data will allow scientist to create more accurate climate models, which in turn, will improve air quality forecast and health risk alerts.

On January 10, 2015, Space X CRS-5 launched with supplies and the CATS demonstation instrument for the Internation Space Station.

Timelapse of CATS Install on ISS, CATS control room during "power on", and CATS mirror door opening.

For complete transcript, click here.
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