The BepiColombo Laser Altimeter

authored by: N. Thomas, H. Hussmann, T. Spohn, L. M. Lara, U. Christensen, M. Affolter, T. Bandy, T. Beck, S. Chakraborty, U. Geissbuehler, M. Gerber, K. Ghose, J. Gouman, S. HosseiniArani, K. Kuske, A. Peteut, D. Piazza, M. Rieder, A. Servonet, C. Althaus, T. Behnke, K. Gwinner, C. Hüttig, R. Kallenbach, A. Lichopoj, K. Lingenauber, H. -G. Lötzke, F. Lüdicke, H. Michaelis, J. Oberst, R. Schrödter, A. Stark, G. Steinbrügge, S. del Togno, K. Wickhusen, J. M. Castro, M. Herranz, J. Rodrigo, H. Perplies, T. Weigel, S. Schulze-Walewski, S. Blum, A. Casciello, E. Rugi-Grond, W. Coppoolse, M. Rech, K. Weidlich, T. Leikert, R. Henkelmann, B. Trefzger, B. Metz
Abstract: The BepiColombo Laser Altimeter (BELA) is the first European laser altimeter constructed for interplanetary flight. BELA uses a 50 mJ pulsed Nd:YAG laser operating at 10 Hz with a 20 cm aperture receiver to perform the ranging. The instrument also uses a digital approach for range detection and pulse analysis. The ranging accuracy is expected to be better than 2 metres and ∼20 cm in optimum conditions. With the given, only slightly elliptical, orbit, BELA should return a consistent data set for the most if not all of the planet. The instrument is required to function in an extreme environment with the thermal issues being particularly demanding. Novel solutions have been taken to resolve these issues. BELA is described in detail and its predicted performance outlined on the basis of pre-flight testing....
Organisation(s): Institute of Geodesy
QUEST-Leibniz Research School
Type: Article
Journal: Space science reviews
Volume: 217
ISSN: 0038-6308
Publication date: 02.2021
Publication status: Published
Peer reviewed: Yes
ASJC Scopus subject areas: Astronomy and Astrophysics, Space and Planetary Science
Electronic version(s): https://doi.org/10.1007/s11214-021-00794-y (Access: Open)
: Details in the research portal "Research@Leibniz University"

BibTeX

@article{e405cb6e589743c6b20d2fb3a0bb74e0,
title = "The BepiColombo Laser Altimeter",
abstract = "The BepiColombo Laser Altimeter (BELA) is the first European laser altimeter constructed for interplanetary flight. BELA uses a 50 mJ pulsed Nd:YAG laser operating at 10 Hz with a 20 cm aperture receiver to perform the ranging. The instrument also uses a digital approach for range detection and pulse analysis. The ranging accuracy is expected to be better than 2 metres and ∼20 cm in optimum conditions. With the given, only slightly elliptical, orbit, BELA should return a consistent data set for the most if not all of the planet. The instrument is required to function in an extreme environment with the thermal issues being particularly demanding. Novel solutions have been taken to resolve these issues. BELA is described in detail and its predicted performance outlined on the basis of pre-flight testing....",
keywords = "BepiColombo, Geophysics, Instrument, Interior, Mercury, Topography",
author = "N. Thomas and H. Hussmann and T. Spohn and Lara, {L. M.} and U. Christensen and M. Affolter and T. Bandy and T. Beck and S. Chakraborty and U. Geissbuehler and M. Gerber and K. Ghose and J. Gouman and S. HosseiniArani and K. Kuske and A. Peteut and D. Piazza and M. Rieder and A. Servonet and C. Althaus and T. Behnke and K. Gwinner and C. H{\"u}ttig and R. Kallenbach and A. Lichopoj and K. Lingenauber and L{\"o}tzke, {H. -G.} and F. L{\"u}dicke and H. Michaelis and J. Oberst and R. Schr{\"o}dter and A. Stark and G. Steinbr{\"u}gge and {del Togno}, S. and K. Wickhusen and Castro, {J. M.} and M. Herranz and J. Rodrigo and H. Perplies and T. Weigel and S. Schulze-Walewski and S. Blum and A. Casciello and E. Rugi-Grond and W. Coppoolse and M. Rech and K. Weidlich and T. Leikert and R. Henkelmann and B. Trefzger and B. Metz",
note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2021, The Author(s).",
year = "2021",
month = feb,
doi = "10.1007/s11214-021-00794-y",
language = "English",
volume = "217",
journal = "Space science reviews",
issn = "0038-6308",
publisher = "Springer Netherlands",
number = "1",
}