Laser reading

The image indicates that the laser carried on ESA’s Aeolus satellite works well in a vacuum. ESA’s Aeolus satellite spent nearly two months in a thermal–vacuum chamber to make sure that its novel instrument will work as it should in space. Aeolus carries one of the most sophisticated instruments ever to be put into orbit: Aladin, with two powerful lasers, a large telescope and very sensitive receivers. It will be the first such satellite mission to measure Earth’s winds from space. It actually carries two laser transmitters just in case one fails.