Research and Development of the ISS Onboard Lidar Mission and Advanced Altimeter Mission

MOLI is Japan’s first Earth observation mission to observe the ground elevation and forests canopy height with the complementary measurement of an imager and lidar. The mission equipment is operated in space through the compartment where ISS-JEM astronauts operate, which helps mitigate the launch environment compared to typical satellite-borne instrument. Consequently, we are conducting prototyping and evaluation tests of lasers and power supplies. Building upon the research findings, we have transitioned to the preparatory phase for launching the mission and are actively engaged in project development and launch operations, despite the approaching ISS operation deadline. Furthermore, ongoing research is focused on developing advanced functionalities based on the results obtained from MOLI.