A gas spring assembly (102;200;304) having a longitudinal axis, said gas spring assembly (102;200;304) comprising: a flexible spring member (206;338) including a flexible wall extending peripherally about said longitudinal axis and axially between opposing first and second ends (218;348,228;358) of said flexible spring member (206;338) to at least partially define a spring chamber (208;340) therebetween; a first end member (202;334) secured along said first end (218;348) of said flexible spring member (206;338) such that a substantially fluid-tight seal is formed therebetween; a second end member (204;336) disposed in axially-spaced relation to said first end member (202;334), said second end member (204;336) secured along said second end (228;358) of said flexible spring member (206;338) such that a substantially fluid-tight seal is formed therebetween; a photon source (272;382;506) including a laser diode, said photon source (272;382;506) operatively disposed along one of said first end member (202;334) and said second end member (204;336); a target surface (284;390;504) operatively disposed along the other of said first end member (202;334) and said second end member (204;336); a photon receptor (274;384;510) operatively disposed along said one of said first end member (202;334) and said second end member (204;336) relative to said target surface (284;390;504); a reference photon detector operable to sense photons received by way of an internal reflection; and, a processor communicatively coupled with said photon source (272;382;506) and said photon receptor (274;384;510); said photon source (272;382;506) operable to direct photons toward said target surface (284;390;504) through at least a portion of said spring chamber (208;340), said photon receptor (274;384;510) operable to generate a signal upon receiving photons reflected off said target surface (284;390;504) from said photon source (272;382;506), and said processor operable to determine a distance having a relationship to a time of flight of photons reflected off of said target surface (284;390;504) from said photon source (272;382;506) and received at said photon receptor (274;384;510). a flexible spring member (206;338) including a flexible wall extending peripherally about said longitudinal axis and axially between opposing first and second ends (218;348,228;358) of said flexible spring member (206;338) to at least partially define a spring chamber (208;340) therebetween; a first end member (202;334) secured along said first end (218;348) of said flexible spring member (206;338) such that a substantially fluid-tight seal is formed therebetween; a second end member (204;336) disposed in axially-spaced relation to said first end member (202;334), said second end member (204;336) secured along said second end (228;358) of said flexible spring member (206;338) such that a substantially fluid-tight seal is formed therebetween; a photon source (272;382;506) including a laser diode, said photon source (272;382;506) operatively disposed along one of said first end member (202;334) and said second end member (204;336); a target surface (284;390;504) operatively disposed along the other of said first end member (202;334) and said second end member (204;336); a photon receptor (274;384;510) operatively disposed along said one of said first end member (202;334) and said second end member (204;336) relative to said target surface (284;390;504); a reference photon detector operable to sense photons received by way of an internal reflection; and, a processor communicatively coupled with said photon source (272;382;506) and said photon receptor (274;384;510); said photon source (272;382;506) operable to direct photons toward said target surface (284;390;504) through at least a portion of said spring chamber (208;340), said photon receptor (274;384;510) operable to generate a signal upon receiving photons reflected off said target surface (284;390;504) from said photon source (272;382;506), and said processor operable to determine a distance having a relationship to a time of flight of photons reflected off of said target surface (284;390;504) from said photon source (272;382;506) and received at said photon receptor (274;384;510).