A Review of Lidar Technology in China’s Lunar Exploration Program

Lidar technology plays a pivotal role in lunar exploration, particularly in terrain mapping, 3D topographic surveying, and velocity measurement, which are crucial for guidance, navigation, and control. This paper reviews the current global research and applications of lidar technology in lunar missi...

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Main Authors: Genghua Huang, Weiming Xu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-11-01
Series:Remote Sensing
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2072-4292/16/23/4354
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author Genghua Huang
Weiming Xu
author_facet Genghua Huang
Weiming Xu
author_sort Genghua Huang
collection DOAJ
description Lidar technology plays a pivotal role in lunar exploration, particularly in terrain mapping, 3D topographic surveying, and velocity measurement, which are crucial for guidance, navigation, and control. This paper reviews the current global research and applications of lidar technology in lunar missions, noting that existing efforts are primarily focused on 3D terrain mapping and velocity measurement. The paper also discusses the detailed system design and key results of the laser altimeter, laser ranging sensor, laser 3D imaging sensor, and laser velocity sensor used in the Chang’E lunar missions. By comparing and analyzing similar foreign technologies, this paper identifies future development directions for lunar laser payloads. The evolution towards multi-beam single-photon detection technology aims to enhance the point cloud density and detection efficiency. This manuscript advocates that China actively advance new technologies and conduct space application research in areas such as multi-beam single-photon 3D terrain mapping, lunar surface water ice measurement, and material composition analysis, to elevate the use of laser pay-loads in lunar and space exploration.
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issn 2072-4292
language English
publishDate 2024-11-01
publisher MDPI AG
record_format Article
series Remote Sensing
spelling doaj-art-1228a236dd164d38b2ef8e60dbdfdcce2025-08-20T02:38:36ZengMDPI AGRemote Sensing2072-42922024-11-011623435410.3390/rs16234354A Review of Lidar Technology in China’s Lunar Exploration ProgramGenghua Huang0Weiming Xu1Key Laboratory of Space Active Optical-Electro Technology, Shanghai Institute of Technical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200083, ChinaKey Laboratory of Space Active Optical-Electro Technology, Shanghai Institute of Technical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200083, ChinaLidar technology plays a pivotal role in lunar exploration, particularly in terrain mapping, 3D topographic surveying, and velocity measurement, which are crucial for guidance, navigation, and control. This paper reviews the current global research and applications of lidar technology in lunar missions, noting that existing efforts are primarily focused on 3D terrain mapping and velocity measurement. The paper also discusses the detailed system design and key results of the laser altimeter, laser ranging sensor, laser 3D imaging sensor, and laser velocity sensor used in the Chang’E lunar missions. By comparing and analyzing similar foreign technologies, this paper identifies future development directions for lunar laser payloads. The evolution towards multi-beam single-photon detection technology aims to enhance the point cloud density and detection efficiency. This manuscript advocates that China actively advance new technologies and conduct space application research in areas such as multi-beam single-photon 3D terrain mapping, lunar surface water ice measurement, and material composition analysis, to elevate the use of laser pay-loads in lunar and space exploration.https://www.mdpi.com/2072-4292/16/23/4354lidarlunar explorationChang’E ProgramGNC system
spellingShingle Genghua Huang
Weiming Xu
A Review of Lidar Technology in China’s Lunar Exploration Program
Remote Sensing
lidar
lunar exploration
Chang’E Program
GNC system
title A Review of Lidar Technology in China’s Lunar Exploration Program
title_full A Review of Lidar Technology in China’s Lunar Exploration Program
title_fullStr A Review of Lidar Technology in China’s Lunar Exploration Program
title_full_unstemmed A Review of Lidar Technology in China’s Lunar Exploration Program
title_short A Review of Lidar Technology in China’s Lunar Exploration Program
title_sort review of lidar technology in china s lunar exploration program
topic lidar
lunar exploration
Chang’E Program
GNC system
url https://www.mdpi.com/2072-4292/16/23/4354
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AT weimingxu areviewoflidartechnologyinchinaslunarexplorationprogram
AT genghuahuang reviewoflidartechnologyinchinaslunarexplorationprogram
AT weimingxu reviewoflidartechnologyinchinaslunarexplorationprogram