Lidar on the Phoenix mission to Mars

A lidar system for atmospheric measurements will operate from the surface of Mars as part of the Phoenix mission. This will measure the height profile of backscattered laser light from airborne dust and clouds. These observations will be coordinated with solar radiation measurements and in situ sampling to study the climate and the water cycle. The design and testing of the lidar system are described, and measurements are presented that demonstrate the analysis methods and the performance characteristics.