New Frontiers: GEDI Successfully Launches, Docks on ISS

Project team members, leadership from the Department of Geographical Sciences and from the College of Behavioral and Social Sciences, and family members attended the successful launch of the Space-X CRS 16, carrying UMD's GEDI instrument from Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla., on December 5.

A few days later, the Dragon capsule docked to the International Space Station, with GEDI onboard. The instrument will soon be unloaded and installed, and will power on. Team members are looking forward to its unprecedented data flow. Congratulations to Professor Ralph Dubayah and to all team members from GEOG and from Goddard Space Flight Center on a successful launch!

The Global Ecosystem Dynamics Investigation (GEDI, pronounced "Jedi," as in the Star Wars canon) instrument produces high resolution laser ranging observations of the 3D structure of the Earth. GEDI’s precise measurements of forest canopy height, canopy vertical structure, and surface elevation greatly advance our ability to characterize important carbon and water cycling processes, biodiversity, and habitat.

Stay tuned to the BSOS homepage and to the GEDI team's Twitter feed for more updates. 

Learn more about the project at gedi.umd.edu.

Pictured at right: The GEDI team celebrates a successful launch. Photo by Daniel Teodoro, courtesy of the Department of Geographical Sciences.

Published on Wed, Dec 12, 2018 - 9:51AM