title: Space-qualified laser system for the BepiColombo Laser Altimeter.
abstract: The space-qualified design of a miniaturized laser for pulsed operation at a wavelength of 1064 nm and at repetition rates up to 10 Hz is presented. This laser consists of a pair of diode-laser pumped, actively q-switched Nd:YAG rod oscillators hermetically sealed and encapsulated in an environment of dry synthetic air. The system delivers at least 300 million laser pulses with 50 mJ energy and 5 ns pulse width (FWHM). It will be launched in 2017 aboard European Space Agency's Mercury Planetary Orbiter as part of the BepiColombo Laser Altimeter, which, after a 6-years cruise, will start recording topographic data from orbital altitudes between 400 and 1500 km above Mercury's surface.
authors: Reinald
authors: R
authors: Kallenbach
authors: Eamonn
authors: E
authors: Murphy
authors: Bodo
authors: B
authors: Gramkow
authors: Markus
authors: M
authors: Rech
authors: Kai
authors: K
authors: Weidlich
authors: Thomas
authors: T
authors: Leikert
authors: Reiner
authors: R
authors: Henkelmann
authors: Boris
authors: B
authors: Trefzger
authors: Bodo
authors: B
authors: Metz
authors: Harald
authors: H
authors: Michaelis
authors: Kay
authors: K
authors: Lingenauber
authors: Simone
authors: S
authors: DelTogno
authors: Thomas
authors: T
authors: Behnke
authors: Nicolas
authors: N
authors: Thomas
authors: Daniele
authors: D
authors: Piazza
authors: Karsten
authors: K
authors: Seiferlin