Long term performance of the High Output Maximum Efficiency Resonator (HOMER) laser for NASA׳s Global Ecosystem Dynamics Investigation (GEDI) lidar

•We have built a diode pumped Nd:YAG laser system for long term deployment in space.•We have built a laser life of ≥16 Billions shots with large diode pump range.•The laser is fully GEVS qualified, where 3 units will fly on NASA’s ISS in 2019.•Wallplug efficiency is ≥ 8%, conductively cooled, and has a very low part count.

We report the results of a 2 year, continuous operational life test of the diode pumped, solid state HOMER laser; a flight-quality prototype, producing over 16 billion, 15 mJ, 10 ns Q-switched laser pulses with an acceptable measured decay rate.