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GEDI Launched to the International Space Station

The Global Ecosystem Dynamics Investigation (GEDI) mission was successfully launched on Dec. 5, 2018, to map the 3D structure of Earth's surface.

The Global Ecosystem Dynamics Investigation (GEDI) mission was successfully launched to the International Space Station (ISS) aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida on Dec. 5, 2018, and is now in its commissioning phase.

GEDI is a full-waveform lidar instrument that will produce detailed observations of the 3D structure of the Earth’s surface. GEDI will precisely measure forest canopy height, canopy vertical structure, and surface elevation which will enhance our understanding of global carbon and water cycle processes, biodiversity, and habitat. GEDI is the first of its kind to provide high resolution laser ranging observations optimized for lidar measurements of the Earth’s forests and topography at the highest resolution and densest sampling of any other lidar instrument in orbit.

GEDI is scheduled for a two-year mission and data will be archived and distributed by NASA's Land Processes Distributed Active Archive Center (LP DAAC) in the future. Learn more at the University of Maryland GEDI website.

Follow the latest updates using #GEDI on X and Instagram.

Stay tuned and receive updates regarding the future release of GEDI data products by signing up for our listserv. Send a blank email to lpdaac-join@lists.nasa.gov to subscribe.

If you have questions, please contact LP DAAC User Services

Details

Last Updated

June 12, 2025

Published

Feb. 5, 2019

Data Center/Project

Land Processes DAAC (LP DAAC)