Sensor · Spaceborne

CATS (Cloud-Aerosol Transport System)

Missions → CATS ISS deployment (Ended)

Sensor

The Cloud-Aerosol Transport System (CATS) is a lidar instrument developed by NASA Goddard Space Flight Center and hosted on the International Space Station (ISS) External Payload Facility.^[1]^[2] CATS uses elastic-backscatter lidar to profile clouds, aerosols, and particulate matter in the atmosphere. The instrument simultaneously transmits at three wavelengths: 1064 nm and 532 nm are cited in agency documentation from cats.gsfc.nasa.gov,^[1] while eoPortal records the full 1064/532/355 nm three-wavelength configuration.^[3] Laser 2 incorporates an injection-seeded design that enables High Spectral Resolution Lidar (HSRL) capability at 532 nm.^[3] A 60 cm telescope diameter is reported by eoPortal.^[3]

CATS draws heritage from the CALIOP instrument on CALIPSO. The low-inclination ISS orbit enables measurements over tropical and subtropical latitudes, complementing the high-latitude coverage of polar-orbiting instruments.^[2]^[3]

Operator pricing

Pricing not publicly listed by operator

Where this fits, supply chain

Compositional position

CATS ISS deployment ——— this payload

this ——— CATS ISS deployment (Ended) flies on

Methods this sensor implements

Demonstrated

Atmospheric backscatter profiling lidar

Capable, undemonstrated

None on record.

Topics this relates to

Air quality Atmospheric backscatter profiling lidar(demonstrated)adequate

Sources

[1]CATS Cloud-Aerosol Transport System homepage, NASA GSFCagency doc2026-06-04
[2]CATS ISS deployment - eoPortal Directorycommunity2026-06-04
[3]The Cloud-Aerosol Transport System (CATS): A New Lidar for Aerosol and Cloud Profiling from ISS - NTRSpeer reviewed2026-06-04

Cite https://eo-atlas.org/products/sensor/cats-iss Markdown twin → Field definitions → Suggest a correction →