Development of a COTS mass storage unit for the space readiness coherent lidar experiment

The technology to develop a Mass Storage Unit (MSU) using commercial-off-theshelf (COTS) hard drives is an on-going challenge to meet the Space Readiness Coherent Lidar Experiment (SPARCLE) program requirements. A conceptual view of SPARCLE's laser collecting atmospheric data from the shuttle is shown. The determination to develop this technology required several in depth studies before an actual COTS hard drive was selected to continue this effort. It is suggested that continuing the development of the MSU can, and will, serve future NASA programs that require larger data storage and more on-board processing. This effort will provide a greater means to other programs that have limited downlink capabilities within their payload telemetry streams.