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Neptec's Laser Camera System (LCS)

| Learn about LCS's Role on STS-118 | View the Samage on STS-118 |

Flexible Two-Axis steering Allowing Standard Raster Scanning for Imaging and Custom Scan Patterns

The development of the Laser Camera System, or LCS, was Neptec's first entry into the world of 3D data acquisition. Originally envisioned as a 3D front end sensor for the SVS system, LCS has become an entity in and of itself. Focused on the development of a 3D tracking capability, the LCS was developed with a flexible two-axis steering that allowed standard raster scanning for imaging and custom scan patterns for tracking targets and features. This capability has since become one of the significant advantages of the basic LCS design and is a fundamental feature of the new generation of Neptec scanners.

Two-Axis Steerable Design

The flexibility of the two-axis steerable design comes from a sophisticated opto-mechanical arrangement. Adapting this opto-mechanical design to survive a space shuttle launch and to survive and function with high precision in a space environment was one of the major challenges faced when designing the LCS.

More Efficient Scan Control Electronics, Improved Acquisition Speed and Optics Optimized for Detailed Inspection

The prototype LCS that flew on shuttle flight STS-105 in 2001 demonstrated that this challenge had been met. The current operational LCS system features significant improvements over the original STS-105 design. These improvements included smaller and more efficient scan control electronics, improved acquisition speed and optics optimized for detailed inspection. The operational LCS program also features improved scan control and data analysis software.

LCS Safety Information