The Long Range Altimeter (LoRA) is a space-flight-qualified laser-based Altimetry and Velocimetry sensor that provides real-time line of sight range data to the spacecraft during the descent and landing phase of the mission. Two independent optical heads distributed around the spacecraft allow the sensor to report range information from 30 km down to the surface.

 

The sensor leverages a prior 2019 space mission pedigree of our OMPS sensor that flew on the SpaceIL unmanned lunar lander and successfully provided real-time range and velocity data down to the lunar surface. The sensor has been installed and flown on Blue Origin’s New Shepard reusable suborbital rocket system. It is designed into a larger lunar lander as the primary descent and landing sensor and is scheduled for a 2025 launch.