Currently one of the most costly subsystems for laser based remote sensing, ranging and communications is the laser itself. Costly because of the lack of understanding regarding the COTS optoelectronic components that are necessary to build the system. Failures on ICESAT (GLAS) have placed the high power laser diode bar arrays as a high risk component that greatly needs attention. These devices are required and expensive such that several programs are banding together to achieve the goal of providing several paths to a qualified part. In addition space programs are more interested than ever in finding an alternative by using fiber amplifiers and lasers for systems that used to require solid state systems now that these systems have finally achieved high enough power densities Fiber amplifiers introduce a variety of COTS optoelectronic components that investigated on a components level can greatly reduce the risk of space flight usage. For this task the high risk parts will be investigated to provide a path to risk mitigated usage.