NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Organization), in a report, said the organization has picked Fibertek, a company from Virginia which deals with high-tech lasers and electro-optics systems mainly for the military and aerospace projects, to design and deliver laser systems that will be used for ICESat-2 (Ice, Cloud, and land Elevation Satellite-2) mission which is scheduled in 2016.

The estimated value of the project is $26,083,242 and the period of the device’s performance will be counted from 38 months after the date of launch.

The company will supply four spaceflight lasers and an extra test laser for the Advanced Topographic Laser Altimeter System instrument which will be mounted on the ICESat-2 Observatory. The laser system contains electrical, optical, thermal control, flight firmware and support gear. The operation will proceed according to the company’s capability.

ICESat-2 will be using accurate laser-ranging procedures to calculate the topography and thickness of the Greenland and the Antarctic ice sheets. ICESat-2 works with NASA's Earth Science program designed to help scientists in developing an improved scientific understanding of the Earth’s system and its response to changes which are both natural and human-induced.

NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, currently manages the ICESat-2 Project.

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