Planets and Moons
Earth
ID: 14261
Leaders in Lidar
Released on January 19, 2023
In this series, we dive into the legacy of Goddard's lead role in developing laser altimetry, which has revolutionized the way we map our planet, the Moon and other planets. Each chapter looks at the successes and failures of these lidar instruments, beginning with the Mars Observer Laser Altimeter in the late 1980s, through the current generation of laser altimeters on ICESat-2 and GEDI. Through dozens of interviews and archival footage, the history, challenges and legacy of lidar are uncovered.
Source Material
Credits
Lead Producer :
Ryan Fitzgibbons (KBR Wyle Services, LLC)
Technical Support :
Aaron E. Lepsch (ADNET Systems, Inc.)
Lead Narrator :
LK Ward (KBR Wyle Services, LLC)
Lead Scientists :
Thomas A. Neumann (NASA/GSFC)
James Garvin (NASA, Chief Scientist Goddard)
Lead Editor :
Ryan Fitzgibbons (KBR Wyle Services, LLC)
Lead Animator :
Ryan Fitzgibbons (KBR Wyle Services, LLC)
Lead Interviewees :
David E. Smith (NASA/GSFC)
Xiaoli Sun (NASA/GSFC)
Scott Luthcke (NASA/GSFC)
Jan McGarry (NASA/GSFC)
James Abshire (NASA/GSFC)
Bryan Blair (NASA/GSFC)
Ralph Dubayah (University of Maryland)
Jay Zwally (NASA/GSFC)
Thomas A. Neumann (NASA/GSFC)
Lead Project Support :
LK Ward (KBR Wyle Services, LLC)
Thomas A. Neumann (NASA/GSFC)
James Garvin (NASA, Chief Scientist Goddard)
Lead Videographers :
Michael McClare (KBR Wyle Services, LLC)
Rob Andreoli (Advocates in Manpower Management, Inc.)
Lead Writer :
Ryan Fitzgibbons (KBR Wyle Services, LLC)
Lead Researcher :
Ryan Fitzgibbons (KBR Wyle Services, LLC)
Interviewees :
Jack L Bufton (GST)
John F. Cavanaugh (NASA/GSFC)
Joseph-Paul A. Swinski (NASA/GSFC)
Project Support :
David Lloyd Rabine (NASA/GSFC)
Kathryn Mersmann (KBR Wyle Services, LLC)
Visualizers :
Greg Shirah (NASA/GSFC)
Kel Elkins (USRA)
Ernie Wright (USRA)
Alex Kekesi (Global Science and Technology, Inc.)
Animators :
Susan Twardy (HTSI)
Chris Meaney (KBR Wyle Services, LLC)
Please give credit for this item to: NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center