{"id":583085,"date":"2026-10-21T22:17:58","date_gmt":"2026-10-21T12:17:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/science-research\/science-enabling-technology\/technology-highlights\/nasas-casals-instrument-bridges-gaps-in-3d-maps-of-earths-surface\/"},"modified":"2026-10-21T22:17:58","modified_gmt":"2026-10-21T12:17:58","slug":"nasas-casals-instrument-bridges-gaps-in-3d-maps-of-earths-surface","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/?p=583085","title":{"rendered":"NASA\u2019s CASALS Instrument Bridges Gaps in 3D Maps of Earth\u2019s Surface"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"\" class=\"hds-module hds-module-full alignfull wp-block-nasa-blocks-secondary-navigation\">\n<div class=\"hds-secondary-navigation-wrapper z-top width-100 padding-0\">\n<div id=\"\" class=\"hds-secondary-navigation width-full border-bottom-1px text-center hds-color-mode-dark hds-module hds-module-full alignfull wp-block-nasa-blocks-hdsnav\"><button type=\"button\" class=\"hds-secondary-nav-mobile-button display-flex tablet:display-flex desktop:display-none width-full flex-align-center bg-carbon-90 border-color-carbon-80 color-spacesuit-white\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"hds-secondary-nav-track\"><span>Explore This Section<\/span><svg width=\"16\" height=\"16\" alt=\"\" enable-background=\"new 0 0 400 400\" viewBox=\"0 0 400 400\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"m4.2 122.2 195.1 195.1 196.5-196.6-37.9-38-157.8 157.8-156.8-156.8z\" \/><\/svg><\/button><\/p>\n<div class=\"hds-secondary-nav-track grid-container grid-container-extrawide padding-0 tablet:padding-x-3 desktop:padding-x-2 \">\n<div class=\"hds-secondary-navigation-menu-items\">\n<nav>\n<ul class=\"usa-nav__primary usa-accordion flex-justify-center margin-0\">\n<li class=\"usa-nav__primary-item \"><a class=\"usa-nav__link\" href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/technology\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Overview<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"usa-nav__primary-item \"><a class=\"usa-nav__link\" href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/technology\/smd-technology-programs\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Technology Programs<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"usa-nav__primary-item \"><a class=\"usa-nav__link\" href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/technology\/technology-highlights-2\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Technology Highlights<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"usa-nav__primary-item \"><a class=\"usa-nav__link\" href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/technology\/workshops\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Workshops and Events<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"usa-nav__primary-item \"><a class=\"usa-nav__link\" href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/technology\/resources\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Publications<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/nav>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>From orbit, today\u2019s space-based laser instruments measure Earth\u2019s forests and terrain one narrow line at a time. Between those lines are enormous gaps that include millions of acres of land scientists never directly measure. NASA\u2019s CASALS instrument will blend machine learning with an ultra-compact lidar instrument to adaptively \u2018sweep\u2019 large swaths of Earth\u2019s surface. This new capability for space-based remote sensors allows CASALS to create truly three-dimensional (3D) topographical renderings.<\/strong>\u00a0<\/p>\n<div id=\"\" class=\"width-full maxw-full margin-left-auto margin-right-auto hds-media-align-inline hds-module wp-block-nasa-blocks-video\">\n<div class=\"hds-cover-wrapper width-full maxw-full flex-column\">\n<div class=\"hds-video-container width-full embed-container\" style=\"\"><video title=\"CASALS flight\" id=\"nasa-plus-Vv1sl\" class=\"video-js video-player vjs-fluid width-full\" data-setup='{\"controls\":true,\"preload\":\"auto\",\"plugins\":{\"mux\":{\"debug\":false,\"data\":{\"env_key\":\"91nns8oppqdfqc44lgo4b1gni\",\"player_name\":\"www.nasa.gov Player\",\"video_name\":\"CASALS flight\"}}}}'  ><source src=\"https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/content\/dam\/science\/cds\/science-enabling-technology\/technology-highlights\/2026\/cyprus_swamp_regA_color_by_alt_pcd5_trajectory_G_60fps.mp4\" type=\"video\/mp4\"><p class=\"vjs-no-js\">To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/videojs.com\/html5-video-support\/\"  rel=\"noopener\">supports HTML5 video<\/a><\/p><\/video><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"hds-media-caption hds-caption padding-y-2\">\n<div class=\"hds-caption-text p-sm margin-0\">\n<div>Video from a CASALS flight over the Great Cypress Swamp in Delaware on Nov. 12, 2024, showing tree canopy tops in green, the ground in purple, and near-ground vegetation in blue.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"hds-credits\">\n<div>Credit: NASA<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A team of researchers at NASA\u2019s Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) has developed a new instrument designed to eliminate blind spots between lines of lidar data on the Earth\u2019s surface. Built with support from NASA\u2019s Earth Science Technology Office (ESTO), the Concurrent Artificially-intelligent Spectrometry Lidar System (CASALS) could help researchers map the features of Earth\u2019s surface with unprecedented detail. Rather than mechanically steering a laser with moving mirrors, CASALS steers light using wavelength itself, generating a continuous, 3D swath of the ground below.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">John Yorks, a physical research scientist at GSFC and Principal Investigator for CASALS, explained that the instrument features a novel transmitter and optical grating system that manipulates laser pulses without heavy, failure-prone motorized mirrors.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Instead, CASALS uses a fast-pulsing, tunable \u201cseed\u201d laser centered at 1040 nanometers, rapidly cycling through 256 unique wavelengths as it pulses through an optical component with a microscopic pattern of ridges called a transmission grating.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">At this point, the physics of diffraction takes over. Because light bends at slightly different angles depending on its exact wavelength, the grating naturally \u201csteers\u201d each of the 256 pulses into a distinct position across the flight path.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This non-mechanical approach paints a continuous 3D swath of the ground. Not only does this eliminate the large unmapped gaps left between the isolated tracks of legacy spaceborne lidars, but stripping away moving parts drastically reduces the instrument\u2019s size, weight, and power (SWaP) requirements. This makes it more reliable for the harsh environment of space.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Another key innovation within CASALS is its detector array. This component features a uniquely high Quantum Efficiency (QE), a variable that describes how effectively a detector converts incoming light (photons) into an electrical signal. CASALS operates at 80% QE. This means CASALS wastes almost none of the light that makes it back to the sensor.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">With QE that high, CASALS can detect much weaker return signals, allowing it to collect useful measurements from darker surfaces or through denser vegetation.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This technology isn\u2019t limited to a laboratory environment. In November 2024, an airborne CASALS prototype flew aboard NASA\u2019s B200 King Air aircraft. The instrument produced science-quality datasets on its first campaign, exceeding the team\u2019s expectations.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI\u2019m very impressed with Guang Yang, Jeffrey Chen, and all our engineers, and how well CASALS performed. This worked really well from the first time we flew it, which is pretty impressive,\u201d said Yorks.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Flying at an altitude of roughly five kilometers, CASALS can distinguish individual tree branches and subtle changes in ground elevation, thanks to its 22-centimeter horizontal resolution.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWe\u2019re able to see really fine details of vegetation structure and changes in the topography of the surface,\u201d Yorks said.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The team aims to fly CASALS again as part of the <a href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/earth-science\/decadal-surveys\/decadal-stv\/ascent\/\"  rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Airborne Surface, Cryosphere, Ecosystem, and Nearshore Topography (ASCENT)<\/a> campaign, scheduled for summer 2027.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But there\u2019s more work to do to prepare the technology for space. The team plans to make several improvements to CASALS before creating a space-ready prototype. Specifically, they\u2019re widening the instrument\u2019s swath and adding onboard data processing software.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Transitioning from a successful airborne prototype to a fully realized space mission is a challenge, but the CASALS team is up to the task.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThe team\u2019s really done a great job of sticking together and keeping on task and on schedule. We are being funded to optimize and improve the performance, and we\u2019re also then looking at ways to take the technologies used in the airborne instrument and mature them and prepare them for a spaceborne version in the future,\u201d said Yorks.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If successful, CASALS could become the first spaceborne lidar capable of mapping Earth\u2019s forests and terrain as continuous three-dimensional swaths rather than isolated profiles, giving scientists a dramatically more complete picture of our changing planet.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For additional details, see the entry for this project on <a href=\"https:\/\/techport.nasa.gov\/projects\/96409\"  rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>NASA TechPort<\/strong><\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Project Lead(s): John Yorks, NASA\u2019s Goddard Space Flight Center<\/strong>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Sponsoring Organization(s): NASA\u2019s Decadal Survey Incubation (DSI) program; NASA\u2019s Instrument Incubation Program (IIP); NASA\u2019s Goddard Space Flight Center; University of California, Santa Barbara; Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University<\/strong>\u00a0<\/p>\n<div id=\"\" class=\"nasa-gb-align-full width-full maxw-full padding-x-3 padding-y-0 article_a hds-module hds-module-full alignfull wp-block-nasa-blocks-credits-and-details\">\n<section class=\"padding-x-0 padding-top-5 padding-bottom-2 desktop:padding-top-7 desktop:padding-bottom-9\">\n<div class=\"grid-row grid-container maxw-widescreen padding-0\">\n<div class=\"grid-col-12 desktop:grid-col-2 padding-right-4 margin-bottom-5 desktop:margin-bottom-0\">\n<div class=\"padding-top-3 border-top-1px border-color-carbon-black\">\n<div class=\"margin-bottom-2\">\n<h2 class=\"heading-14\">Share<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"padding-bottom-2\">\n<ul class=\"social-icons social-icons-round\">\n<li class=\"social-icon 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minh-mobile\">\n<figure class=\"hds-media-background  \"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"319\" height=\"319\" src=\"https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/content\/dam\/science\/esd\/eo\/images\/iotd\/2026\/autumn-paints-poland's-bieszczady-mountains\/poland_bieszczady_oli2_20261008_th.jpg\/jcr:content\/renditions\/cq5dam.thumbnail.319.319.png\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium\" alt=\"\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/esd\/eo\/images\/iotd\/2026\/autumn-paints-poland's-bieszczady-mountains\/poland_bieszczady_oli2_20261008_th.jpg?w=319&#038;h=319&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 319w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/esd\/eo\/images\/iotd\/2026\/autumn-paints-poland's-bieszczady-mountains\/poland_bieszczady_oli2_20261008_th.jpg?w=300&#038;h=300&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 319px) 100vw, 319px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"padding-right-0 desktop:padding-right-10\">\n<div class=\"subheading margin-bottom-1\">3 min read<\/div>\n<div class=\"margin-bottom-1\">\n<h3 class=\"related-article-title\">Autumn Paints Poland\u2019s Bieszczady Mountains<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"p-md color-carbon-60\">Fall color covers the forested slopes of Bieszczady National Park, while patches of polonina, a\u2026<\/p>\n<div class=\"display-flex flex-align-center label related-article-label margin-bottom-1 color-carbon-60\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"display-flex flex-align-center margin-right-2\"><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg version=\"1.1\" class=\"square-2 margin-right-1\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" xmlns:xlink=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/1999\/xlink\" x=\"0px\" y=\"0px\" width=\"16px\" height=\"16px\" viewBox=\"0 0 16 16\" style=\"enable-background:new 0 0 16 16;\" xml:space=\"preserve\"><g><g><path d=\"M8,0C3.5,0-0.1,3.7,0,8.2C0.1,12.5,3.6,16,8,16c4.4,0,8-3.6,8-8C16,3.5,12.4,0,8,0z M8,15.2 C4,15.2,0.8,12,0.8,8C0.8,4,4,0.8,8,0.8c3.9,0,7.2,3.2,7.2,7.1C15.2,11.9,12,15.2,8,15.2z\"\/><path d=\"M5.6,12c0.8-0.8,1.6-1.6,2.4-2.4c0.8,0.8,1.6,1.6,2.4,2.4c0-2.7,0-5.3,0-8C8.8,4,7.2,4,5.6,4 C5.6,6.7,5.6,9.3,5.6,12z\"\/><\/g><\/g><\/svg><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span>Article<\/span><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"\"><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t2 days ago\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<div class=\"grid-col-12 desktop:grid-col-4 margin-bottom-4 desktop:margin-bottom-0 desktop:padding-right-3\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/earth\/earth-observatory\/fires-arrive-in-the-amazon-rainforest\/\" class=\"color-carbon-black\" rel=\"noopener\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"margin-bottom-2\">\n<div class=\"hds-cover-wrapper cover-hover-zoom bg-carbon-black minh-mobile\">\n<figure class=\"hds-media-background  \"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"319\" height=\"319\" src=\"https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/content\/dam\/science\/esd\/eo\/images\/iotd\/2026\/fires-arrive-in-the-amazon-rainforest\/amazofires_amo_20261012_th.jpg\/jcr:content\/renditions\/cq5dam.thumbnail.319.319.png\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium\" alt=\"\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/esd\/eo\/images\/iotd\/2026\/fires-arrive-in-the-amazon-rainforest\/amazofires_amo_20261012_th.jpg?w=319&#038;h=319&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 319w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/esd\/eo\/images\/iotd\/2026\/fires-arrive-in-the-amazon-rainforest\/amazofires_amo_20261012_th.jpg?w=300&#038;h=300&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 319px) 100vw, 319px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"padding-right-0 desktop:padding-right-10\">\n<div class=\"subheading margin-bottom-1\">6 min read<\/div>\n<div class=\"margin-bottom-1\">\n<h3 class=\"related-article-title\">Fires Arrive in the Amazon Rainforest<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"p-md color-carbon-60\">During El Ni\u00f1o, a cascade of fires across the tropics begins in equatorial Asia and\u2026<\/p>\n<div class=\"display-flex flex-align-center label related-article-label margin-bottom-1 color-carbon-60\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"display-flex flex-align-center margin-right-2\"><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg version=\"1.1\" class=\"square-2 margin-right-1\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" xmlns:xlink=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/1999\/xlink\" x=\"0px\" y=\"0px\" width=\"16px\" height=\"16px\" viewBox=\"0 0 16 16\" style=\"enable-background:new 0 0 16 16;\" xml:space=\"preserve\"><g><g><path d=\"M8,0C3.5,0-0.1,3.7,0,8.2C0.1,12.5,3.6,16,8,16c4.4,0,8-3.6,8-8C16,3.5,12.4,0,8,0z M8,15.2 C4,15.2,0.8,12,0.8,8C0.8,4,4,0.8,8,0.8c3.9,0,7.2,3.2,7.2,7.1C15.2,11.9,12,15.2,8,15.2z\"\/><path d=\"M5.6,12c0.8-0.8,1.6-1.6,2.4-2.4c0.8,0.8,1.6,1.6,2.4,2.4c0-2.7,0-5.3,0-8C8.8,4,7.2,4,5.6,4 C5.6,6.7,5.6,9.3,5.6,12z\"\/><\/g><\/g><\/svg><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span>Article<\/span><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"\"><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t6 days ago\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>From orbit, today\u2019s space-based laser instruments measure Earth\u2019s forests and terrain one narrow line at a time. Between those lines are enormous gaps that include millions of acres of land scientists never directly measure. NASA\u2019s CASALS instrument will blend machine learning with an ultra-compact lidar instrument to adaptively \u2018sweep\u2019 large swaths of Earth\u2019s surface. This [\u2026]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":13,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_uf_show_specific_survey":0,"_uf_disable_surveys":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[16326,17499,17026,15925],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-583085","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-3d-resources","category-earth-surface-interior","category-science-instruments","category-technology-highlights"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t<!-- All in One SEO Pro 5.0.4 - aioseo.com -->\n\t<meta name=\"description\" content=\"From orbit, today\u2019s space-based laser instruments measure Earth\u2019s forests and terrain one narrow line at a time. Between those lines are enormous gaps that include millions of acres of land scientists never directly measure. 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Between those lines are enormous gaps that include millions of acres of land scientists never directly measure. NASA\u2019s CASALS instrument will blend machine learning with an ultra-compact lidar instrument to adaptively \u2018sweep\u2019 large swaths of Earth\u2019s surface. 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Between those lines are enormous gaps that include millions of acres of land scientists never directly measure. NASA\u2019s CASALS instrument will blend machine learning with an ultra-compact lidar instrument to adaptively \u2018sweep\u2019 large swaths of Earth\u2019s surface. This [\u2026]","og:url":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/?p=583085","article:published_time":"2026-10-21T12:17:58+00:00","article:modified_time":"2026-10-21T12:17:58+00:00","twitter:card":"summary_large_image","twitter:site":"@VibewireCentral","twitter:title":"NASA\u2019s CASALS Instrument Bridges Gaps in 3D Maps of Earth\u2019s Surface - VibeWire Magazine","twitter:description":"From orbit, today\u2019s space-based laser instruments measure Earth\u2019s forests and terrain one narrow line at a time. Between those lines are enormous gaps that include millions of acres of land scientists never directly measure. NASA\u2019s CASALS instrument will blend machine learning with an ultra-compact lidar instrument to adaptively \u2018sweep\u2019 large swaths of Earth\u2019s surface. This [\u2026]","twitter:creator":"@VibewireCentral"},"aioseo_meta_data":{"post_id":"583085","title":null,"description":null,"keywords":null,"keyphrases":{"focus":[],"additional":[]},"primary_term":null,"canonical_url":null,"og_title":null,"og_description":null,"og_object_type":"default","og_image_type":"default","og_image_url":null,"og_image_width":null,"og_image_height":null,"og_image_custom_url":null,"og_image_custom_fields":null,"og_video":null,"og_custom_url":null,"og_article_section":null,"og_article_tags":null,"twitter_use_og":false,"twitter_card":"default","twitter_image_type":"default","twitter_image_url":null,"twitter_image_custom_url":null,"twitter_image_custom_fields":null,"twitter_title":null,"twitter_description":null,"schema":{"blockGraphs":[],"customGraphs":[],"default":{"data":{"Article":[],"Course":[],"Dataset":[],"FAQPage":[],"Movie":[],"Person":[],"Product":[],"ProductReview":[],"Car":[],"Recipe":[],"Service":[],"SoftwareApplication":[],"WebPage":[]},"graphName":"BlogPosting","isEnabled":true},"graphs":[]},"schema_type":"default","schema_type_options":null,"pillar_content":false,"robots_default":true,"robots_noindex":false,"robots_noarchive":false,"robots_nosnippet":false,"robots_nofollow":false,"robots_noimageindex":false,"robots_noodp":false,"robots_notranslate":false,"robots_max_snippet":null,"robots_max_videopreview":null,"robots_max_imagepreview":"large","priority":null,"frequency":null,"local_seo":null,"seo_analyzer_scan_date":"2026-10-21 13:17:33","breadcrumb_settings":null,"limit_modified_date":false,"open_ai":null,"ai":null,"created":"2026-10-21 13:15:48","updated":"2026-10-22 00:36:00","focus_keyword":null,"additional_keywords":null,"truseo_locale":null},"aioseo_breadcrumb":"<div class=\"aioseo-breadcrumbs\"><span class=\"aioseo-breadcrumb\">\n\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/\" title=\"Home\">Home<\/a>\n<\/span><span class=\"aioseo-breadcrumb-separator\">\u00bb<\/span><span class=\"aioseo-breadcrumb\">\n\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/?cat=15925\" title=\"Technology Highlights\">Technology Highlights<\/a>\n<\/span><span class=\"aioseo-breadcrumb-separator\">\u00bb<\/span><span class=\"aioseo-breadcrumb\">\n\tNASA\u2019s CASALS Instrument Bridges Gaps in 3D Maps of Earth\u2019s Surface\n<\/span><\/div>","aioseo_breadcrumb_json":[{"label":"Home","link":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/"},{"label":"Technology Highlights","link":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/?cat=15925"},{"label":"NASA\u2019s CASALS Instrument Bridges Gaps in 3D Maps of Earth\u2019s Surface","link":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/?p=583085"}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/583085","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/13"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=583085"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/583085\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":583320,"href":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/583085\/revisions\/583320"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=583085"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=583085"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=583085"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}