GEDI (Global Ecosystem Dynamics Investigation)

Full-waveform multi-beam spaceborne lidar mounted on the Japanese Experiment Module Exposed Facility of the International Space Station. Developed at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center under the NASA Earth Ventures Instrument programme (USD 94 million cost cap), with the University of Maryland as science PI. First instrument purpose-built for global 3D mapping of forest canopy structure from orbit. Three Nd:YAG lasers at 1064 nm produce 4 beams via Beam Dithering Unit; each beam is then dithered to produce 2 ground tracks for 8 tracks total. 25 m footprint, 60 m along-track spacing, 600 m cross-track spacing. Coverage 51.6 degrees south to 51.6 degrees north (ISS inclination). Launched December 2018, moved to storage March 2023, reinstalled April 2024, operational since.