NASA has developed a new instrument called CASALS, which uses machine learning and lidar technology to create three-dimensional maps of the Earth's surface. The instrument, designed by a team at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, aims to fill gaps in existing data by creating a continuous, 3D swath of the ground below. Unlike traditional lidar instruments, CASALS uses a novel transmitter and optical grating system that manipulates laser pulses without the need for heavy, failure-prone motorized mirrors. Instead, it uses a fast-pulsing, tunable 'seed' laser that rapidly cycles through 256 unique wavelengths as it pulses through an optical component with a microscopic pattern of ridges. This allows CASALS to create detailed, high-resolution maps of the Earth's surface, including forests, terrain, and vegetation. The instrument has the potential to revolutionize the way we understand and study the Earth's surface, and could be used for a range of applications, from environmental monitoring to disaster response. The CASALS instrument is a significant advancement in lidar technology, and could have a major impact on our understanding of the Earth's surface.