NASA's CASALS airborne lidar prototype flew in November 2024

In November 2024, an airborne CASALS prototype flew aboard NASA's B200 King Air aircraft. The flight produced science-quality datasets.

CASALS was developed by NASA GSFC and supported by NASA ESTO. The listed principal investigator for CASALS is John Yorks.

The system blends machine learning with ultra-compact lidar and creates 3D topographical renderings.

It steers light using wavelength rather than motorized mirrors. A transmission grating steers 256 pulses.

The listed vehicle specifications include 1040 nanometers, 256 wavelengths, 5 km and 22 cm.

CASALS produces a continuous 3D swath and eliminates unmapped gaps.

CASALS has reduced SWaP and is listed as more reliable for space.

A high QE detector array is listed with 80% QE, and the system can detect weaker return signals.

Space-based laser instruments map one narrow line at a time, and their gaps include millions of acres. The CASALS continuous 3D swath eliminates unmapped gaps.

Reduced SWaP and no motorized mirrors are relevant to the stated reliability for space, while machine learning and ultra-compact lidar create 3D topographical renderings.

CASALS aims to fly again in the ASCENT campaign in 2027.

Before a space-ready prototype, the listed improvements include widening the swath and onboard data processing software.